EP REVIEW: Three Swords – Beyond Extinction
Essex deathcore wrecking crew BEYOND EXTINCTION have scraped and clawed themselves to the forefront of the genre since their inception in 2018. Having played Bloodstock Festival in 2021 and receiving considerable admiration for their debut album Where They Gather last year, they continue to captivate. Striking while the momentum is flowing, they recently released four track EP, Three Swords. A journey through the historical horrors which befell their home turf of East Anglia. Strap yourselves in, this is not meant to be a pleasant listening experience.
Witchfinder commences with bludgeoning riffs and gruesome gutturals encapsulated by the overarching theme of Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General who accused and executed hundreds of women back in the 1600’s. The menacing soundscape instills a feeling of unease in the pit of your stomach. Skin Of The Beast depicts the harrowing imagery of a tribe emerging from the swamps adorning bloodsoaked furs and a taste for violence. The crushing drum sequences rattle your skull as the accompanying downtuned dissonance paves its path of destruction.
The Estuary is inspired by local waterways such as Blackwater and the Rivers Thames, Colne and Crouch which have been synonymous with a number of unexplained deaths and disappearances. The haunting atmospherics blend with intense, jarring instrumentation. Formidable blast beats and an unrelenting heaviness provide the ideal backdrop for the blood curdling vocal expulsions. A Dark Sickness (Three Swords) harkens back to the time of the plague and the black death. Bells ring as the violent soundtrack and lyrical content bring an array of terrifying imagery to the forefront, particularly the line “Have you ever seen the streets, so full of decaying human meat?. An appropriately grim conclusion to an informative yet devastating outing.
Three Swords cleverly immerses you in thematics, whilst simultaneously beating you with volleys of merciless aggression, encouraging the listener to scratch beyond surface level and educate themselves on the bleak events which have come before us. BEYOND EXTINCTION continue to show why they are one of the most intriguing outfits to emerge in recent years.
Rating: 8/10
Three Swords is out now via self-release.
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