Review: “Beyond Death” by Our Last Crusade

Eight string Metal merchants Our Last Crusade may have seemed quiet since the release of their well received 2023 album “Death Wins” but it’s the quiet ones, as they say, you have to look out for. Hailing from Calgary Alberta Canada, the band have been cutting their own path through the urban jungle since 2010 and have offered up a prelude to their next album in EP “Beyond Death“. When it eventually arrives, that album is said to be a tragic saga of a concept release that follows an immortal deity searching for a way out of its suffering as well as being something that represents a stark evolution in sound and songwriting from the band…

…While early on it their career the sound of Our Last Crusade had flavours of Metalcore wrapped in Hardcore and Deathcore stylings, death became clearer through bloodshot eyes and pretty early on their sound had evolved into and urgent blend of the poly-rhythmic spine juddering sounds of DJent while reaching and touching the void into Thrall. Their last album “Death Wins” is arguably their finest work, refining and redefining their sound to give us something that brings them closer to their peers in Reflections. Opening cut “Time and Death and Godliness” feels like they’ve somehow twisted and contorted with flavours of “Alien” era Northlane bleeding through the bandages of the guitars; the caustic vocals Adrian Parcioaga nothing short of savage. The track hits in waves of deep groove that are almost a post hypnotic suggestion, the thunderous percussion and rumbling bass commanding movement, the sonic weight of it all powerful enough to slap you into next week. A guest vocal appearance from Thor Eide of Planetkiller on “The Eternal Recurrence” is a gratefully received addition, the second track another earthquake tremor that registers as seismic activity. Haunting electronics are a tasteful embellishment, the shriller vocals nicely contrasting against the death growled ones as the tune plays out. There is even a hopped up burst that echos something you might expect from Hunt the Dinosaur vocalist Hunter Madison that sends a shiver down the spine. Staccato riff breaks and ethereal darkness finish the tune with the gripping style of a horror movie, a blood curdling scream perhaps hitting at some Slam inspired vocals to come with the album. The churn, burn and intensity of these tracks is impressive, the musicianship as razor sharp as ever and if this is what the album is going to sound like then it’s going to be brutal [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Time and Death and Godliness
2. The Eternal Recurrence (ft. Thor Eide of Planetkiller)

“Beyond Death” by Our Last Crusade is out 10th March 2026 and is available over at bandcamp