Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the Spirit
CD Info
2012
Frontiers Records
11 Tracks
English Lyrics
Every once in a while, an album comes along that enthralls, inspires, and lets you experience music in ways you never thought possible. All the while allowing you to rock out to your heart’s content, of course. Though it’s only February, I’ve already found two albums that fall into this category. The first of those two is the subject of this review: The Old Man & The Spirit, the debut album by the German progressive metal project Beyond The Bridge. This record was 6 years in the making, as its members worked on the material in between university studies. That extended length of time may have worked to Beyond The Bridge’s advantage – because The Old Man & The Spirit is one of the most emotionally charged and jaw-droppingly ingenious albums to come out in years.
Released last month, The Old Man & The Spirit is a concept album exploring one man’s struggle of understanding life versus living life to the fullest. The story’s two characters are indicated by the album’s title: the Old Man, portrayed by veteran metal vocalist Herbie Langhans (Sinbreed, Seventh Avenue); and the Spirit, voiced by the German female jazz singer Dilenya Mar. Musically speaking, The Old Man… is like a page out of Arjen Lucassen’s Ayreon book. You’ll hear all of the distinctive elements of progressive metal, from frequent tempo changes to experimentation in song structure and time signatures. That’s before you start counting other ingredients such as choirs, spacey synthesizers, spoken-word passages, and the swarm of influences from other music genres and ethnic styles. To top this all off is the production team of Simon Oberender and Sascha Paeth, who have worked with Epica, Kamelot, Edguy, and Avantasia, among many other bands. That duo alone is one of the best endorsements of good metal that we can get nowadays.
Such star power isn’t necessary for Beyond The Bridge, though. On it own, The Old Man & The Spirit features one expertly crafted track after another. The first two tracks, "The Call" and "The Apparition," combine progressive technicality with anthemic melodies almost effortlessly. "The Apparition" in particular features segments of Middle-Eastern-tinged jazz, a choir of Langhans and Mar’s layered voices, and myriad hooks scattered throughout its chorusless structure. "The Struggle" is exactly what its title implies: Mar and Langhans deliver competing melodies and lyrics over salsa rhythms and robust riffs. This dueling approach appears throughout The Old Man… but is most evident on this track, making it an instant favorite. The instrumental "Triumph of Irreality" and the shred-menace "Doorway to Salvation" will also resonate with the listener.
What makes The Old Man & The Spirit so appealing is its balance of musical complexity and simplicity. Most of the slower tracks have strong classic rock or 80’s-power-ballad influences. Mar’s solo song "World of Wonders" is a great example. It slowly builds from its gentle synth intro into a soulful, rousing reminder not to take life for granted. "Where The Earth And Sky Meet" brims with timelessness thanks to a celestial ambiance and nostalgic lyrics. Langhans’ ability to control his potent voice on this track makes this chapter of the Old Man’s story all the more convincing. Nothing will prepare you, however, for the tour-de-force closer "All A Man Can Do." This converging of Beyond The Bridge’s intricate and simple sides could flood a stadium with its beauty and solemnity. The layers of sound, voices, and nuances open up with each listen and act as an undercurrent to Langhans’ best performance on the record.
Which leads me to another highlight of The Old Man & The Spirit: the vocal duo of Langhans and Mar. Their voices complement one another so well despite their differences. Langhans’ is powerful and gravelly, while Mar’s has a warmer, sweeter sound. Additionally, the dueling vocal arrangements on The Old Man… suit the album’s concept perfectly. It gives the effect of the Old Man and the Spirit arguing with and debating against one another. And, it allows both singers to play to their strengths while proving how versatile their vocal ranges are.
Now, this is normally when I offer criticism in my reviews. But in the case of The Old Man & The Spirit, I can’t. Nothing about what Beyond The Bridge offers bothers or disappoints me. If anything, I’d advise fans of female voices that Langhans has a greater presence on The Old Man… than Mar does. After all, this concept album focuses on the Old Man’s struggle, so it makes sense that we’d hear Langhans more often. Also, listeners need to take their time with The Old Man…. Not only is there a lot to digest sonically, this 11-track album soldiers on for 67 minutes. If you like statistics: Two songs clock in at over 6 minutes, three more surpass 7 minutes, and the two longest tracks pass the 8- and 9-minute marks, respectively. That’s what you’d call "prolonged deep listening." But if you’re like me and enjoy epic tracks as long as the length is justified, it’s one more reason to adore this album.
Yes, I won’t skirt around the truth: I adore Beyond The Bridge’s The Old Man & The Spirit, and I’m convinced that many of you will as well. Every aspect of this record – the songwriting, the production, and the vocal arrangements – shows a band with the skills, passion, and intelligence to carry out their vision. The uniting of progressive metal with more accessible music styles also make The Old Man… a great "gateway" album for new fans to the genre. Finally, Langhans and Mar excel in their vocal roles on this album, and the rest of the band deserves credit for selecting these two singers to bless their music. If you’re a fan of concept albums, progressive metal, complementing male and female voices – hell, if you’re a fan of good music in general, put Beyond The Bridge’s The Old Man & The Spirit on your list of must-have albums for 2012. Once you realize how long the impact of each song lingers with you, you’ll be glad you did.
10 / 10
Best Songs: "All A Man Can Do," "The Apparition," "World of Wonders," "The Struggle"
Recommended for fans of progressive rock/metal bands such as Ayreon, Seventh Wonder, Pain of Salvation, and Conception
The Old Man and the Spirit is out now in Europe, Japan, and North America, and can be purchased directly through Frontiers Records or through digital platforms such as iTunes and Amazon.
