Review of “Darkest Times”
“Darkest Times” consists of twelve songs adding to an over 60-minutes, true long player. Finnish melodic death metal is a standard of its own and Beyond The Hate undoubtedly match this benchmark.
Track list
Sign Of Weakness (music: Karhu/lyrics: Kalinainen)
Alone I Die (music: Perälehto/lyrics: Kalinainen)
The Lighthouse (music: Perälehto/lyrics: Kalinainen)
Black Within (feat. Katri Hiovain-Asikainen) (music: Karhu/lyrics: Kalinainen & Karhu)
The Plague upon us (music: Perälehto & Pekka Posio/lyrics: Kalinainen)
Left Behind (music: Perälehto/lyrics: Kalinainen)
Dark Is the Sky (music & lyrics: Karhu)
Dead Ones (music: Karhu/lyrics: Kalinainen)
Stranger in Me (music: Perälehto/lyrics: Kalinainen)
Times Of Misery (music: Perälehto/lyrics: Kalinainen)
The Last Moments (music: Perälehto/lyrics: Karhu)
In Memoriam (feat. Jaakko Mäntymaa) (music & lyrics: Karhu)
Alone I Die
“Alone I Die”, a high-paced fusion of harsh vocals and clean echoes, bursts with heavy riffs, blast-driven drums, and contrasting semi-acoustic guitars. Its lyrics beautifully display the Finnish motif of solitude, revealing it as both liberating and isolating. The track ingeniously tackles the struggle many Finnish men are said to have to express emotions, mirroring the competing desires for independence and meaningful connection. Nature in both verses emphasizes the chosen distance from others, however, the perspective on it alters. While in the beginning, the virtual images reflect positively on solitude, in the second verse, it turns into metaphoric obstacles. The chorus unveils the paradox that freedom may be unwanted in the face of death. The song’s complexity captures the eternal struggle between independence and the yearning for connection.
Times Of Misery
The lyrics of “Times Of Misery”, contain the album “Darkest Times“. It unfolds at a deliberate pace, cloaking listeners in a gloomy, emotionally heavy soundscape punctuated by intriguing breaks. The song again addresses the theme of solitude. That may result from quarrels or overwhelming traumatic experiences. Then, loneliness emerges as a consequence of pain, a feeling amplified by the isolation resulting from the inability of others to comprehend or alleviate the suffering. Interestingly, Beyond The Hate expresses despair through plain clean vocals, either solo or in choir which neatly underline the sensation of solitude.
In Memoriam (feat. Jaakko Mäntymaa)
“In Memoriam”, the closing track on “Darkest Times” written by Jyrki Karhu, includes a verse in Finnish performed by Marianas Rest vocalist Jaakko Mäntymää. The slow-to-midtempo piece masterfully blends distorted and acoustic elements, crafting a dark, emotionally charged atmosphere that mirrors the unexpected loss. Though the lyrics might not match the standards of a master poet, they perfectly reflect the circle of thoughts in the moment of unforeseen loss. The instrumental mix resonates with the harsh realities of grief, while sweet acoustic interludes provide warmth akin to the memory of the departed. The straight vocal tune provides virtual handrails and again reflects the void opened by the loss, while the choir translates the visual memories into audible images.
Darkest Times – a fine specimen of Finnish MDM
“Darkest Times“ by Beyond The Hate stands out as a fine specimen of Finnish Melodic Death Metal (MDM), where MDM usually is synonymously for ‘Melancholic Death Metal.
The album is generally midtempo dominated; but never trust a slow intro other than to erupt into a hell-break-loose bridge. “Darkest Times“ bursts of rapid interludes, boasts stunning riffs and delicate intros that paint a rich sonic tapestry. The incorporation of black metallish and folky vibes adds a captivating dimension to the album’s palette of styles.
What strikes me most, although it might not be the most obvious candidate, is the diversity of the vocal techniques. Undoubtedly, they want their lyrics to be understood immediately when listening. Most outstanding here is the idea of connecting a particular emotion with a particular vocal technique. The featured artists Katri and Jaakko then add a most delicious fudge to the cake.
Bottom line: “„Darkest Times“” serves as a well-executed debut full-length album, showcasing the band’s evolving signature style.
It has been an interesting journey, resulting in an absolutely recommendable album. I find it interesting that Beyond The Hate draws quite some inspiration from their virtual neighbourhood. Usually, when you ask about it, big names drop, such as legendary instrumentalists, mega sellers, or dreaming of playing at a major international festival.
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Images (band and cover art) originally published on Beyond The Hate @ Facebook, interview photo taken by Muumi Katja