One genre of metal music, that I've practically bypassed, is so-called "depressive black metal". And now, at the beginning of summer, as nature has began to wake up, sun is shining (no pun intended) and girls are peeling off their winter clothing and getting their hotpants out, I'm suppposed to get into a fitting mind-set for something depressive?!

Well, German one-man band Beyond Helvete isn't totally about depression, but its creator Natrgaard's (Smashed Ruins, ex-Zwenz) feelings. Self-therapy it is. The majority of the music is straight and not droning, but still simplistic and quite monotonous. Black metal is the main ingredient, punky and rocking style of it. Some riffing is pure black metal, then there are heavier ones to be heard, too. That's it; this just makes my foot tap. Also, the purging vocals manage to capture my mind. The vocals are actually pretty much annoying, a lot of it is right on "shouting" or such, but they sound so pure. There is that grisly primitivity that I cannot resist, no matter that I don't even know the lyrics! It helps a lot, that all the instruments are acoustic. I feared to hear some plastic drum machine sounds, but no, not here. A couple of shortish breathing pauses are provided by the acoustic ending of 'Soul Reflection', softer yet still haunting end of 'Fears', and 'A Nameless Desire', which is weirder non-metal instrumental (not really fitting on the album, frankly). The music itself isn't original, but Beyond Helvete do sound sincere. Talking about sounding, this does sound good, because there's enough balls and rawness in the production.

A straightforward hit between the eyes. That's how 'Self-Therapy' is at its best. Even though its nature is monotonous, it manages to stir enough. There is a lot to be found in this austerity, that Beyond Helvete has created. It is not a completely successful experience, though. There could be more twists, if you ask me, and as mentioned, 'A Nameless Desire' does not fit on the album. But as the album is, it is certainly entertaining in a way. Well done, believable catharsis, this.

Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
05/15/2011 20:56