Discovering Bands: Far Beyond - A Frozen Flame Of Ice (Full-Length Album - 2016)

domingo, 4 de setembro de 2016

Far Beyond - A Frozen Flame Of Ice (Full-Length Album - 2016) - Bandcamp Stream

Far Beyond is a One-Man-Band founded by Eugen Dodenhoeft from Germany in 2001. He gained his first underground success with the full-length album An Angel’s Requiem released in 2005. Four years later Eugen released an EP called Songs of Hope and Sorrow which featured less Black Metal elements than it’s predecessors and focussed more on melancholic melodies and dark atmosphere.

In 2016 after over five years of work, A Frozen Flame of Ice is finally released. “A Frozen Flame Of Ice” is the second full-length album of the dark melodic metal band Far Beyond. It contains 6 songs with a total running time of about 52 minutes. The album was released to the public via Aeterna Records. The album is again a solo release by the bavarian loner with two guest musicians, performing guitar solos and backing vocals. Eugen Dodenhoeft was again responsible for production, composing, arranging, playing guitars & bass and singing.

A Frozen Flame of Ice continues where Songs of Hope and Sorrow ended. It features the same dark and tragic atmosphere but with more crafty arrangements, more diversity and even more beautiful melodies and choirs.

Far Beyond is very unique. The best way to describe would be melodeath with a pinch of gothic mood. Sorrow is part of Eugen’ sound also. There’s also a healthy dose of electronic arrangements, some of them quite orchestral. Where Far Beyond shines is in it’s guitar work, and I must command Eugen for his fantastic riffs and guitar melodies.

This album is very layered, and you can tell Eugen took a very long time crafting his masterpiece. I sense a perfectionist in him, and this results in songs that are never predictable but always epic and highly melodic. You have to understand that pretty much 98% of this album has been created, played, recorded and mastered by Eugen himself. He received a little help in some back vocals and a few guitar solos. That’s about it. The rest is all made by him and that alone is just unbelievable to me.

If you like bands like Wintersun, Eternal Tears of Sorrow or Ensiferum, you should feel right at home with Far Beyond. Eugen is one of those musical genius like Jari Maleempa as far as I’m concerned, and it amazes me how much emotion is transmitted through his music. It’s a shame he is not more well known in the metal scene, as I truly believe he should be at the very least as known as the aforementioned bands. Hopefully his hard work and talent will be recognized by more people soon.

MEDIA REVIEWS
"album of the year" award and 96/100 " - METALREVIEWS

85/100 - bungabunga-hardcoredeath (In German)

7.5/10 - mauce.nl

Formed In: 2001
Status: Active
Years Active: 2001-Present

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Eugen Dodenhoeft - All instruments, Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Programming & Production

Country of origin: Germany
Location:Nuremberg, Bavaria
Genre: Symphonic Dark Metal

Current Label: Aeterna Records

Official Website: http://www.far-beyond.com