This is the latest EP from Beyond Grace, a death metal band from the UK.
Two years after the second part of this EP trilogy, we come to Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 3. Beyond Grace continue to impress, and their continued lack of higher profile continues to be a mystery. Regardless, this EP is another reason to get on board the Beyond Grace train.
The format is the same as the previous EPs – three original songs, and a cover. Radium Angels opens the release, and features a guest spot from the singer of Transgressive. This is the longest cut by far on the EP, and finds Beyond Grace in fine, aggressive, worldbuilding form. It’s harsh and brutal, but with a sophisticated edge. It’s a good example of how Beyond Grace tend to lean towards adopting a balance of accessibility and complexity where they can, leading to songs like this, which combine elements of tech death, avant-garde expression, and hardcore heaviness. A strong start.
Next is Reign of Error. Wasting no time, it roars into existence with furious grooves, it feels like death metal by way of Car Bomb, Decapitated, and Lamb of God combined. The growls are more brutal than ever, and the screams acidic and sharp. Reign of Error is one of the band’s heaviest outings, and a song destined to rip up pits everywhere.
First as Tragedy follows on a more technical trajectory. Fast and nasty, it’s a thrash-infected burst of extremity and progressive aggression that will knock your socks off and grind them into dirty sock dust. The last minute or so is notable, delivering a finale that blends heaviness, atmosphere, and feeling.
Finally, we come to the Manic Street Preachers cover of the classic cut If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next. It’s very different to the original, and has been thoroughly put through the Beyond Grace factory, to good effect.
Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 3, like the band’s previous releases, demonstrates Beyond Grace’s continued commitment to refining and improving their craft. The songwriting continues to get more advanced, and the performances match, (with the vocals in particular some of the strongest that the band have committed to tape).
Very highly recommened.
Wonderbox Metal 