Norway has spawned some of the most unique, not to mention strange, bands in recent years and Beyond Dawn is certainly one such band who unquestionably possess a musical vision like no other. Their severly morose debut, 1995's Pity Love, flirted with the usage of brass instrumentation and avante garde structures, both of which have blossmed far beyond the realms of flirtation on the band's second full length, Revelry.

To label Beyond Dawn's sound as Gothic Metal would be misleading as it would most likely bring Theatre Of Tragedy and the like to mind, which Beyond Dawn is far removed. They do posess a strong Gothic essence, but its not Romantic or Tragic Goth. It's more to do with the vocals of guitarist Espen Ingierd, who sounds not unlike Michael Gira of Swans fame, or a less impotent Robert Smith of The Cure. Also, the guitar work has that distant resonating feel that defines the sound of most gothic music. The melancholic mood has less to do with tragic loss and more to do with lonliness, isolation, and introspective themes of emotional and mental disturbance. Indeed, the lyrics to these compositions are very introspective, yet written in an unorthodox manner causing one to really dwell on what is being said.

The trombone is now a major part of the Beyond Dawn presentation, enhancing the melancholy of these songs with its mournful sound. It may be hard to imagine this instrument providing a depressing tone, but it works here, these songs probably would not be the same without it. First track "Love's (Only) True Defender" is a lurching, crawling piece, drifting off into almost lounge music territory at times. "Tender" is nothing like the name suggests, moving along at an urgent tempo, a slight industrial feeling running through. "Stuck" and "Resemblance" are slow, emotionally impotent numbers, giving the listener a feeling of weakness...giving up...just allowing the world to do whatever it wants as you sit alone in isolation, uselessly pondering the meaning of it all. "Three Steps For The Chameleon", 'I Am A Drug" and "Breathe The Jackal" are possibly the band's strongest moments here, while "Life's Sweetest Reward" is just plain bizzare. "Chains" is a bitter denouncement at that most twisted of emotions, love, and "Phase To Phase" ends the album with the most introspective moment on offer, a slow, brooding number that asks the questions we all wish we could find answers for, but most likely never will...

One of the most underrated bands in music, Beyond Dawn are cleary a band that follows no one but themselves in terms of musical vision and creation. In a perfect world this band would be much bigger, maybe even polluting the mainstream's happy-go-lucky world with their morose, melancholically abstract sound. I've let them into my world, and have reaped the benefits for doing so...I recommend you do the same if you're searching for a unique soundtrack to your own moments of inner reflection...

This review is credited to:
palewake