27th April 2022

Review: “Scrutiny” by Beyond The Structure

The return of Estonian Death Metal act Beyond The Structure four years after their EP “Machine of Progress” alongside their signing to Vicious Instinct Records (Wretched Tongues, Nihility) for new album “Beyond The Structure” would normally have been something we would have expected sooner in order to capitalise on the momentum and quality of their previous works. However having started the writing process back in 2018, a myriad of line up changes hampered progress, the group now consisting of vocalist Edgar Balabanov, guitarist Artjom Balakshin, bassist Yaroslav Luzin and drummer Simo Atso with Balakshin the sole original member of the band and 2020 saw the recording process for the record commence. Recorded at Walter Productions Studios in Tallinn, Estonia by Are Kangus, mixed by Igor Ovcharenko in Samara, Russia and mastered by multi-instrumentalist and producer Colin Marston at the Thousand Caves Recording Studios in Queens, New York the album now celebrates a decade of aggression for the outfit.

Thematically, “Scrutiny” assess the trials and tribulations which humanity has faced over the course of evolution with lyrics inspired by the works of Jean-Paul Sartre, the Strugatsky brothers and Viktor Pelevin, touching upon the crisis of existential existence, mass psychosis, and the inevitable catastrophes caused by the actions of a consumption-based society with artwork from Vladimir ‘Smerdulak‘ Chebakov. To take on such a deep subject matter speaks volumes about the thought process that has gone into creating record conjures images of the band creating something dark and atmospheric to accompany the narrative, which is exact what they have done. “Endless Cycles” plays with odd time signatures with a technical approach combining Math Metal elements to their Death Metal sound setting the tone for what is a thinking man’s record that pushes the boundaries of both the band and the listener in the same way that works from bands like Between The Buried And Me do. They’re not afraid to allow the bass to pop out of the mix with DJenty leanings in “Progressors” as they catapult ideas around so as to never follow a linear path but still have enough structure to hold the songs together as clearly identifiable and enjoyable. During the recording sessions vocalist Mihail Makoshin was replaced by Edgar Balabanov due to musical and personal divergences and it has to be said that there are often times when Balabanov’s throat shredding vocals are the single heaviest element of the band. It’s also easy to see why a purist Death Metal vocalist may struggle for vocals for something as diverse and indulgently dramatic as the music that Beyond The Structure create because as they move between textural moments, the way in which the vocals need to flow has to reflect that in order not to sound disjointed. So while the band have sonically nailed slick transitions between those sections, the vocalist has to match them, knowing when to break the lyrical flow and when to continue despite the changing soundscape beneath and to be honest these songs would work just as well without vocals because they are so diverse, enthralling and captivating.

That’s not to do Balabanov an injustice, he gives you plenty to think about in his own right and these songs wouldn’t work if he was screaming about batchelor parties, girls, guns and firetrucks. There are so many nuanced moments that “Scrutiny” will keep you coming back for more and you’ll hear something you missed the last time you heard it, giving it a lot of longevity. The sinister almost Jazz inspired moments of “Profanation of the Non-Existent” are absolutely stunning while the thunderous groove of “Numerous Existences” with its vibrant and menacing lead guitar is something that is solid and perhaps less expansive than some of the other material and yet has a burst of blast beats and some Black Metal throat grating with an unexpected pitch shift to something shriller. Arguably saving their best until last “Mass Psychosis” brings the house down with some Megadeth styled opening riffs that burst into flame with an off kilter solo and some powerhouse rhythmic prowess. A more direct and yet embellished approach with sinister atmospherics it’s a stone cold winner that sonically fits the lyrical narrative like a glove. Subtle tempo shifts an fuel to the burning wreckage and there are a couple of points where you could imagine that the band might indulge in some orchestration but instead they trust their instincts and the result is jaw dropping [8.5/10]

Track Listing