Customer Reviews

Beyond the Maze

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was introduced to the band with the Buried Again album and was very impressed. After initially hearing this disc, I was somewhat disappointed but after repeated listens, it is just as good, if not better than Buried Again. The Figures of Disguise and Ties of Time are especially good. The live recording is also very good quality and is worth owning on its own. If you are into gothic metal, this is a definite must-have.

Beyond the Maze is a masterpiece. There's no other way to put it. Sound-wise, it's gothic rock with heavy guitars, emotional vocals and beautiful symphonic arrangements. Gothic metal and symphonic metal... all of these bands ought to be ashamed to use classical instrumentation after hearing this. Everything fits together so perfectly and leaves you wanting more. Powerful vocal melodies, dense atmospheres and masterful songwriting make this an amazing album. If you ever feel the need to check out this band, let this be your chance.

Dreadful Shadows are a band that have composed some great music for their genre . This album takes you on another dark journey through their unique rock-goth melodies . This may not be their best release to date , but this specific edition is a MUST for all fans , since it includes a limited edition bonus material from live sessions .

For all new comers , i suggest looking up some of their older stuff as well. Dreadful Shadows are also very well known in the goth world for their EXCELLENT cover songs which include 80s classics such as "Twist in my Sobriety" and "Lullaby" .

For all you die hard Dreadful Shadows fans you must own the miniCD "Apology" to hear some great stuff as well .

Holy, holy, holy crap, man. This is an excellent CD. Probably one of the over all best recordings from an underrated band - ever! It kicks off with "Crusade", which is a hard hitting, emotional instrumental track. This feeds right into "Fall", the very song that got me into this band. Sven's voice is little masked in this song, but, the music is composed of some good electric guitar riffs, mind pounding drums, and creepy violins to tie it all together. "Figures Of Disguise" is another good one, featuring a slow toned beat, led by the drums and soon kicked in by the guitars. Followed up by "Ties Of Time", which is built on a mournful (In a good way) string beat. "Craving" is next, and a solid title all the way. Depressing piano leds the song, into the mid point, which the light drums join. "The Soil" - Creepy, not for the easily scared. Sven's voice is especially deep in this one. "The Drowing Sun" and "Desolated Home" are both pretty good tie-in titles, so to speak. And then, "Burning The Shrouds", what bad thing here? None. It is a full on, hard hitting, rock solid goth metal song. The drums are especially great in this song. And the choir toward the end - Excellent. So, finally, we come to the final track, "Beyond The Maze". A very dark song, yet, it seems out of place. To me, personally, it seems like it's more of a bonus track, not the 'main' title. It's good, but with all the other songs on here, it hardly reaches the same caliber. As for the bonus live CD, "Chains", "Craving", "True Faith" and "Homeless" are what makes this such a good deal. They are all four, much better than their studio versions. Especially so with "Craving". Instead of the light drums midway, we get intensly emotional guitars, and mournful anger in Sven's tone. If this doesn't have you yelling along by the third time you hear it, you obviously are drained of angry emotions. ~.0 However, "Burning The Shrouds" and "The Soil" seem weaker to me in these live recordings. My final word, if you're looking into buying a Dreadful Shadows CD, or maybe just looking into getting a CD from this genre, I highly suggest this one. If you're looking for a preview of a full song, I'd gladly send you one. Just E-mail Kalteraphine@AOL.com or ZeraphineShadows@AOL.com, with the subject "Beyond The Maze, indeed". Until then, have a goodnight, and a pleasant tomorrow.