(Andy Synn is in Seattle right now… which makes it the perfect time to talk about ferocious French furies Beyond the Styx, righr?)
If you’re reading this… and you must be, because you’re seeing these words… then I’ll be in Seattle attending this year’s edition of Northwest Terror Fest, which means I won’t be online as much or available to respond to your queries and comments as quickly.
That being said, I don’t expect too much in the way of controvery or complaints with regards to the upcoming new album from French Metallic Hardcore firebrands Beyond the Styx (set for release this Friday via Innerstrength Records), as if you were a fan of their previous album (which you can read more about here), then you’ll be happy to learn that DIVID is all about giving you more of what you love… even if it’s tough love.
With a sharper bite – especially when it comes to Emile Duputié’s tooth-baring bark – and a harder edge (the guitars in particular being made of a tougher metal, and a tougher mettle, this time around), DIVID isn’t a major shift for the band… but it’s undoubtedly a meaner, more aggressive beast.
This is very apparent when opener “Dust Off” immediately attempts to kick your teeth straight down your throat via the sort of clanking, clanging chuggery that errs even further towards the Death Metal influenced side of Hardcore – think God’s Hate, Melting, and No Cure (all of whom you should check out, btw, if you’re not already familiar with them) – than ever before.
Similarly the likes of “Bystander” – which is the sonic equivalent of falling head-over-heels down a flight of concrete stairs, hitting every step with a visceral, bone-breaking crunch – and the seething tremolo and needling stabs of dissonance which penetrate and permeate the furious “Never Ending War” (which also exposes how much more nakedly political the band’s polemical lyrics have become, which is no bad thing) only further reinforce this impression that Beyond the Styx have decided that enough is enough.
Sure, they’re not doing anything particularly new here – b0th the deathy churn ‘n’ burn of “Chaosystem” and the rattling bass lines and reckless abandon of “Flowerviolence”, for example, possess an in-your-face intensity whose origins can be traced back to the likes of All Out War ir Arkangel in full flight, while the aptly-named (and suitably venomous) “Kiss of the Cobra” hits with a thrillingly thrashy intensity reminisct of Ringworm at their best – but the band’s commitment to pulling no punches ensures that every song leaves a lasting mark on the listener.
So whether we’re talking about the brooding melodies and brooding, down-tempo chuggery of “Anyøne”, the pummelling ground ‘n’ pound punishment of “Deadlock V”, or the moody monstrosity that is cruching closer “Storm of Life” (whose absolutely colossap climax has more than a hint of The Acacia Strain to it) one thing is certain… whereas previously the band may have been acting like conusumnate students of the game, on DIVID they’ve become masters of their craft.