### Beyond Creation: The aura

#### 20/02/12 || Charl du Plessis

There’s a ton of new metal coming out almost daily, with the challenge being to filter the shit from the shovel. Yes, indeed there are rare occasions where we find new bands that are well worth the rant considering there is just so much of everything all the time. Occasionally drunken search engine searches for new music do prove to pan out fruitful as with the discovery of Beyond Creation. For one I hate the term “prog” or adding to the list of general dislikes, the term “technical metal” For my definition in short, it just means too many erratic solo’s, normally with mediocre vocals and ultimately results in landing in an ever-growing file 13. Thanks for coming, now piss off.

Self proclaimed “prog” and “technical death” metallers, Beyond Creation don’t quite fit that bill. From listening to the album a few times I don’t really want to label it any further. Let’s keep it at being a well executioned extreme metal production with a selection of guys really knowing how to make the most of their instruments. Pulling off a recording that’s tight and proper.

With 0.5 seconds into it you already realize you are in for more than a Chuck Schuldiner tribute album. There’s simply no time to fuck around when it constantly pounds your hearing with both brutality and over the top guitaring. Sure thing the guitars take a front seat but it’s still not enough to limit the real death metal influence that is raging through the tracks from start to finish. The music in its totality is extremely busy and might take you more than one listen to make up your mind if this is your kind of shit. There is more than enough good song composing varying between their beloved “prog” and what the rest of underground faithfuls look for in a good mosh or two (or three, or four stitches)

Considering this is their first full length album surely this can only get more intense from here onwards. “Omnipresent Perception” captures all about it being a well presented band with a foundation of hard death metal roots. Hear the Atheist influence coming through on “Chromatic Horizon” A fucking class act in its own right.

When it’s time for death, it’s done well and released with conviction. There’s loads of impressive drumming that pushes higher boundaries and really does this record proud. It also stands out from the rest of the 13 steps to nowhere found all over the rest of the place. The occasional scream accompanies the majority of deep growls which is sadly, kept to a minimum. You might think you are listening to an average debut “prog” release but the music is as angry as ever. Shit hot musicianship indeed!

Variation within whatever these guys classify themselves as is the key. You really don’t want to be limited to one style when you playing such a quality variety of metal all in one. I personally believe the typical labeling of metal is becoming somewhat of a dying breed in certain circles anyway. Rather you be the judge and decide where it fits in your world.

Definitely a recording capturing the heavy cravings for intense guitar shredding. Recent releases of a similar nature sells short in finding the next big band in the making. Let’s just say “The Aura” might very well have enough in it to see them through to the next album, whilst their audience longs for more of Beyond Creation’s brand of metal. Certainly an album that a big chunk of GD followers will enjoy.

- Information
- Released: 2011
- Label: PRC Music
- Website: Beyond Creation MySpace
- Band
- Simon Girard: vocals & guitars
- Kévin Chartré: guitars
- Dominic “Forest” Lapointe: fretless bass
- Guyot Begin-Benoit: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. No request for the corrupted
- 02. Coexistence
- 03. Chromatic horizon
- 04. Omnipresent perception
- 05. Injustice revealed
- 06. Le Détenteur
- 07. The aura
- 08. Social disability
- 09. Elevation path
- 10. The deported