Section X

Beyond Twilight | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 31, 2005)
• Original Release Date: May 31, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nightmare Records
• ASIN: B0007X7UW6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,066 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Fredy - ELEKTROLURCH - Webzine - Germany - 360 out of 360 points --Fredy - ELEKTROLURCH - Webzine

Product Description

THIS IS MAXIMUM PROGRESSIVE METAL!! MEANING INTENSE, INTRICATE BEAUTIFUL, SCARY, AND AMAZINGLY ADDICTIVE!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cinematic, epic, dark prog, May 31, 2005

By 

Murat Batmaz (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Section X (Audio CD)

After nearly four long years, Beyond Twilight has emerged with a new album. Their previous disc The Devil's Hall of Fame with Jorn Lande on vocals was a stunning record, so it caused quite some stress when it was announced that Lande had left and was replaced by a new singer: American vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter from the band Outworld. If you were a fan of Lande's vocals in Beyond Twilight, worry not, Carpenter is an absolutely perfect fit for the position. The tone of his voice and his phrasing are highly similar to Lande's, which is great. There are moments on the album, unless you look in the CD booklet, you wouldn't know it's not Jorn Lande singing. Carpenter does an excellent job; he sings passionately and will easily convince everyone that he is the perfect choice.

Finn Zierler, the man behind Beyond Twilight, is still responsible for most of the songwriting on this disc, which is darker than ever, more progressive and more cinematic. Seemingly written locked in a dark attic, the dirty streets of London and near a cold lake, Section X is the continuation of Beyond Twilight's debut concept, and it kicks off with a very similar theme. There is also an informative and quite interesting storyline printed in the booklet. Even though I can't say I'm too impressed by the concept, neither was I by the one in the previous album. It's more Zierler's unique understanding of composition and creating thick, layered soundscapes that draw me to the sound and style of Beyond Twilight. Once again the production on this album is huge, thanks to Zierler's cooperation with Tommy Hansen during the mixing stages. This album is more of progressive tinged disc with sweeping arrangements and numerous emotional twists. Jacob Hansen's addition to the fold also serves this purpose, and his presence is easily noticeable. Give a close listen to the way the guitars slowly soar above Zierler's piano on "Sleeping Beauty" and how they fade into infinity as if the wind carries them away. This song also features guest vocalist Truls Haugen whose clean singing exchanges spots with Carpenter's more aggressive style. The big chorus filled with Latin lyrics is a reference to the first Beyond Twilight album, except that the female choir singing it is a lot more effective this time around.

New vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter takes on many different roles through the album. From the most haunting melody lines pulled out of the depths of hell that permeat "The Path of Darkness", the gruff and enraged singing on "Shadow Self", the cold spoken passages on "The Dark Side", or even the more multi-octave hitting screams on the 9-minute closing title track, Carpenter makes this album as amazing as the highly acclaimed debut, and certainly proves to be a fantastic addition to prog metal singers. Once the debut Outworld disc sees the light of day, it will be a headturner, mark my words.

There is a mindblowing instrumental track titled "Portrait F in Dark Waters", a classical intermezzo that starts out lush and laid-back, but quickly picks up and ventures into a dark musical territory displaying Zierler's ethereal piano and keyboard work merged with a great sense of orchestration - you must hear it, as I consider the composition presented here much better crafted than the instrumental pieces on the debut album. Zierler's tone is distinctive in all the songs, as he implements various progressive elements in the songs backed up by powerful twin guitars and a solid rhythm section. Best exemplified on the title track, each instrument weaves its way through the music delicately, laying down subtle odd time signatures without letting go of the dark atmosphere this album is intended to possess. Note the way the keyboards subtly morph into an Egyptian-themed arpeggiated guitar melody during the breakdown that ultimately leads to the dramatic finale. It might strike you speechless.

Beyond Twilight is back! Let's hope we won't have to wait another four years for their third album. But then if that's what it takes to create epic and soulful music like this, that's cool with me. Both Beyond Twilight albums are essential for dark prog metal fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!! What a Prog Sound!!, May 1, 2005

By 

Elton Lee (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Section X (Audio CD)

Well let me start off by saying that I came across Beyond Twilight coincidently in the last couple of weeks in one of the cd sites which I think is www.cdinzane.com I had no idea they were so brilliant. Their first album was sung by Jorn Lande when I read the info and I knew right away I had to get it.. I bid in ebay for $10.00 I think and immediately was hook onto it.... Then Section X came out and I was sad to see that Jorn Lande no longer is in the band but on the other hand I was in for a surprise....Their new vocalist is as brilliant as Jorn Lande but with his own signature.. I love his voice and now gotten used to Section X. The songs are well written and has so much aggression than their 1st album. The tempo on this album has been sped up and you could hear BT doing their own prog metal thing with technical brilliance I might say!!! Vocalist singing his lungs out and proving he is as good as Pagan's Mind Voice, Symphony X or Dream Theater voice. Their sound and songs are so refreshing and distinctive. You can never compare BT with any other Prog Metal Band. They are their own!! This is one of my favourite cd this year 2005. I highly recommend to Prog Metal Fans around the world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theatrical Progressive Metal at it's Best!!, November 8, 2006

By 

Michael (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Section X (Audio CD)

This album is heavy and dark and feels like the soundtrack to a horror film. These guys are a great band who create epic songs that feel like they take you on a journey of darkness and intrigue! Great vocals on this too. He sings with passion and power without the high opera falsetto! This music reminds me of Dream Theatre's dark songs on Awake and Scenes crossed with the theatrical pomp of Queen and Jordan Rudess's solo albums. Check this out if you love epic progressive metal soundtracks.