Typhonian are a German death metal band and this is their second album.
The Gate of the Veiled Beyond contains 50 minutes of old-school death metal, but of a non-standard variety. It’s rooted firmly in 90s waters, but has also been expanded with blackened, atmospheric, and progressive influences; Typhonian may look backwards for inspiration, but they also look to the future with what they do with it.
The Gate of the Veiled Beyond is an album of two parts in a way. The first part consists of six songs, (plus intro), while the second is a single 19-minute epic. Although Typhonian’s expansive death metal sound can be felt across the first part of the record, it’s this massive final song where the progressive and atmospheric elements truly come to vibrant life.
Imagine a foundation of classic Swedish death metal, with engaging dark melodies and scathing riffs. Onto this, add progressive layers of intricate design, building atmospheric and emotive structures on top of the death metal heaviness. Finally, pour a light black metal coating on it, enriching the guitars with blackened might.
The core of the music is absolutely a death metal one. Most of the album fits within this framework, albeit with a blackened veneer. It’s a Swedish death metal mixed with melodic black metal feast that’s very tasty. The earlier tracks are tweaked with the occasional progressive flourish. However, as the album progresses more and more of Typhonian’s expressive progressive vision comes to life, culminating in the last song, which is an exemplar of immersive worldbuilding.
The music is easy to enjoy. Typhonian are skilled at providing a mix of aggression, melody, and atmosphere that’s compelling. The album seems to develop in depth and complexity as you move through the tracklist, from the relatively straightforward opening cut Cosmic Throne, to mid-album highlight The Gatekeeper, right up to that ultimate track that I keep mentioning – Cath’un – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond. As such, the record has a flow that sweeps you inevitably to the apex of Typhonian’s art.
Typhonian have produced a solid example of progressive blackened death metal. Learning from the past to inform the future, this is music that is striving to offer something a bit more than the norm, and in this it succeeds. A rewarding, enjoyable listen – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond is a recommendation for anyone who’s looking for death metal on the more ambitious side.
Wonderbox Metal 