Beneath
The chaps over in Beneath, a Tulsa based melodic metal band, recently got in touch with us letting know about some of their tracks and to see what we thought of things. Formed in 2004, the band are out there getting their name seen, their music heard, and a reputation formed as they hammer out their unique take on music, drawing influence from the likes of Killswitch Engage, Asking Alexandria and Five Finger Death Punch. I figured that the only way to work this out was going to be to hit play and see for myself what was going on!
Opening with Defy The Idea we’re immediately thrown into a melee of rolling drums, powerful vocal lines and bass heavy guitar lines, setting the scene for what is to follow. Despite the hard hitting beginning to things there’s also a huge level of melody running through things, keeping the sound alive and drawing you in to listen harder. The immediate feel from this track is of one which will find its true power on the live scene, the recording almost acting as a sample of the bands full sound yet, still managing to harness a hell of a lot for you to check out! Building to a crescendo to end the track, as an introduction to a band this is pretty spot on, immediately showing what we can expect and letting us know that these guys aren’t here to mess around!
Moving on to Remuneration this idea continues, once again throwing down with a hard hitting guitar line before launching us into the sort of sound which is going to get pits moving and people chanting along. Another track which seems purpose built for the live scene, this is one which is going to grab your attention, get you moving and make you want to hear more and more. I love the combination of lead snippets with rolling drums, then the soaring and melodic chorus part of the track, it all simply works to build a track which is impossible to resist. Embers continues this theme perfectly, almost leading on from the previous track and continuing to bombard us with their upbeat yet heavy melodies. Sounding akin to Atreyu combined with KSE at first, the band seem to have drawn influence from their peers to produce a sound which is their own, simply using some of the key ideas of the others to help them build their own. This ability to use influence to craft a unique sound is something which is all too often lost as bands try to emulate their peers, but in this case the chaps seem to have ended up with their own approach, something which is going to stand them in good stead on the scene.
Tall Tales Of A Prophecy comes up next and shows off the bands funky tendencies, throwing us into a track which is sure to get people moving along with them. Once again combining their insane power with a real sense of melody to keep the track accessible, this is a track which marks a serious highpoint on the selection. There’s something about the combination of lead lines with the roving bass line, then the addition of the powerful drum line and roaring and soft vocal lines which elevates this track into something which you want to hear more of, simply letting you know that they can do damned well when they set their mind to it. Closing with Flatline (there is a remix of Remuneration on the ReverbNation page but I’ll leave that to you to check out!) we’re left on a high, presented with one final upbeat snippet of what to expect from these guys on the live front. Rolling drums abound as heavy guitar lines meld with roaring vocals, the mix keeping you moving, keeping you interested and letting you know that this isn’t a band to second guess. The final closing moments on the selection here leave me thinking that this is a band we need to get over to the UK, a band that stands a damned good chance of doing remarkably well!
I didn’t really know what to expect from Beneath when I first hit play on their tracks, but if I’m honest, I was pleasantly surprised. The band have taken influence from their peers to create a sound which somehow sounds familiar, yet also unique and new, it’s a clever achievement for sure. Is the music here ground breaking, probably not, but at the same time my question would be whether it needs to be! What the guys in Beneath have done is take an existing genre, make it their own and do it damned well – which is why I think they stand such a good chance moving forwards. Definitely one to look out for if you’re in the US, and one we need to get over here sometime!
To find out more about Beneath, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Defy The Idea we’re immediately thrown into a melee of rolling drums, powerful vocal lines and bass heavy guitar lines, setting the scene for what is to follow. Despite the hard hitting beginning to things there’s also a huge level of melody running through things, keeping the sound alive and drawing you in to listen harder. The immediate feel from this track is of one which will find its true power on the live scene, the recording almost acting as a sample of the bands full sound yet, still managing to harness a hell of a lot for you to check out! Building to a crescendo to end the track, as an introduction to a band this is pretty spot on, immediately showing what we can expect and letting us know that these guys aren’t here to mess around!
Moving on to Remuneration this idea continues, once again throwing down with a hard hitting guitar line before launching us into the sort of sound which is going to get pits moving and people chanting along. Another track which seems purpose built for the live scene, this is one which is going to grab your attention, get you moving and make you want to hear more and more. I love the combination of lead snippets with rolling drums, then the soaring and melodic chorus part of the track, it all simply works to build a track which is impossible to resist. Embers continues this theme perfectly, almost leading on from the previous track and continuing to bombard us with their upbeat yet heavy melodies. Sounding akin to Atreyu combined with KSE at first, the band seem to have drawn influence from their peers to produce a sound which is their own, simply using some of the key ideas of the others to help them build their own. This ability to use influence to craft a unique sound is something which is all too often lost as bands try to emulate their peers, but in this case the chaps seem to have ended up with their own approach, something which is going to stand them in good stead on the scene.
Tall Tales Of A Prophecy comes up next and shows off the bands funky tendencies, throwing us into a track which is sure to get people moving along with them. Once again combining their insane power with a real sense of melody to keep the track accessible, this is a track which marks a serious highpoint on the selection. There’s something about the combination of lead lines with the roving bass line, then the addition of the powerful drum line and roaring and soft vocal lines which elevates this track into something which you want to hear more of, simply letting you know that they can do damned well when they set their mind to it. Closing with Flatline (there is a remix of Remuneration on the ReverbNation page but I’ll leave that to you to check out!) we’re left on a high, presented with one final upbeat snippet of what to expect from these guys on the live front. Rolling drums abound as heavy guitar lines meld with roaring vocals, the mix keeping you moving, keeping you interested and letting you know that this isn’t a band to second guess. The final closing moments on the selection here leave me thinking that this is a band we need to get over to the UK, a band that stands a damned good chance of doing remarkably well!
I didn’t really know what to expect from Beneath when I first hit play on their tracks, but if I’m honest, I was pleasantly surprised. The band have taken influence from their peers to create a sound which somehow sounds familiar, yet also unique and new, it’s a clever achievement for sure. Is the music here ground breaking, probably not, but at the same time my question would be whether it needs to be! What the guys in Beneath have done is take an existing genre, make it their own and do it damned well – which is why I think they stand such a good chance moving forwards. Definitely one to look out for if you’re in the US, and one we need to get over here sometime!
To find out more about Beneath, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls