ALBUM REVIEW: Our Kingdom Undone – Beyond Grace
Nottingham-based death metal band BEYOND GRACE have been steadily climbing the ladder in the death metal scene since their debut, Seekers. Now, the band have signed a deal with Prosthetic Records, and they’re ready to push themselves further and redefine their sound into something that’s intricate, intense and crushingly heavy with their second full-length effort, Our Kingdom Undone.
The past couple of years has seen a strange episode of unification and division due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the push for Brexit. At first, we were at one another’s throats over leave or remain, then we were clapping at 8pm every Thursday for our admirable NHS workers, and then once again we were back to division over the easing of the restrictions of the nationwide lockdowns. The album itself is fuelled with raw emotion, particularly in the lyrics, mostly inspired by the anger felt with the frustration over events like the above taking place. Our Kingdom Undone shows that emotion in an effortless fashion.
When you hear the likes of Factions Speak Louder Than Herds, The Price Of Peace and Fearmonger, you can notice that intensity at its finest. Between the deep, harsh gutturals of vocalist Andy Walmsley and the more technical and complex guitar work of Tim Yearsley and Chris Morley, there is an air of turmoil that can be felt. Despite the majority of us trying to move forward after the events of the past nearly two years, this is something that embodies everything that we have all probably felt at some point during that period.
Whilst the sound is consistent throughout the album, there are twists and turns still to be had, with each track on the album having its own mind. Persona Non Grata for example shows a more melancholic approach with thick bass grooves from Andrew Workman followed by technically melodic guitar solos. Fearmonger on the other hand shows off how thunderous and disgustingly aggressive Ed Gorrod goes at his drum work. Whichever direction the songs take, the band work in great harmony with one another, which is a testament to their development as a band since their debut.
The album’s title-track finale is probably where they hit their peak at showing the direction in which they wish to continue in the future. At just over 12 minutes, Our Kingdom Undone delivers a platter of filthy riffs and sheer aggression. That ferocity can be heard in each member’s performance throughout the lengthy title, however, each element has its own spotlight, blending together to create something which is nothing short of genius.
It’s hard to not want to smash things up throughout this album, each feeling that could have possibly been felt throughout our recent events have been put into a music format to be cathartic, not just for the band, but for listeners. Our Kingdom Undone is so disgustingly heavy it becomes merciless, and whilst it might not be the death metal album of the year, it is an example of just how dangerous BEYOND GRACE can become in the future if they continue to peddle out music like this.
Rating: 8/10
Our Kingdom Undone is out now via Prosthetic Records.
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