Beyond the Veil is a collective based in Tokyo but with members from many countries. The state goal of the outfit is to create a mash-up of 70s prog and modern extreme metal. Left unsaid is that there are six songs here that clock in at more than 65 minutes. So think "Aqualung" turned up to eleven. Or, well, maybe that's off.

Beyond the Veil Oblivion (WormHoleDeath)

Here's the thing: the band has both a singer and a screamer. The band employs all those great 70s prog instruments (Moog, Chapman Stick, etc.) and creates some sumptuous prog soundscapes. Then it finds reasons to set fire to those regions. The long songs indicate the seeming warfare between the sounds. And then, all of the elements flow together. The fusion is a wall of power and angst and pretty everything that's right (or wrong, depending on your perspective) with the world.

Plenty of bands have mixed disparate metal sounds, and the current shoegaze metal scene remains intriguing to me. This is not that. This is taking the melodic purity and all-encompassing sonic palette of Hawkwind and then stirring in some screamo and black metal. Beyond the Veil has found the points of connection, and these songs illustrate the truly awesome power of metal when it fully unfolds.

I've long held that because of its extreme nature, some metal artists are among the most adventurous folks in music. Beyond the Veil absolutely qualifies. These songs don't compromise an inch, and in following every sound to its logical conclusion there is a final stunning alchemy. Very much one of those acquired taste sets, but this is perfect for those who like to listen to battles between chaos and order. My ears are ringing and on fire.

Jon Worley