Beyond Fear – Beyond Fear

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impulse buy

SPV
Produced by Jim Morris

Most famous for replacing Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford in the early ’90s, Tim “Ripper” Owens is undoubtedly one of the most underrated metal vocalists around. Now fronting Iced Earth following Halford’s return to the Priest fold, Beyond Fear is essentially Ripper’s first solo project. The intention however was to have a full, permanent band to be the leader of. A new band, instead of joining an existing band like he’s done before. The result is the most brutal and awe-inspiring work he’s ever produced.

Now, to be honest, if I had to say what opening track Scream Machine sounded most like, I’d have to say Rob Halford’s solo band Halford. The irony. This is the one fans will have been hearing a sample of on Ripper’s site for some time. It’s after this song, however, that the album really comes into its own. And… You Will Die and Save Me have a very similar delivery from Owens to his work on Iced Earth’s most recent album The Glorious Burden, but musically they’re much heavier. Coming At You is more straight-ahead traditional metal than we’re used to hearing from him, perhaps akin to late ’80s Ozzy Osbourne, but still heavy as hell. In contrast Dreams Come True is, as you might expect, a ballad somewhat similar to the softer things he did with Iced Earth, but more impressive for the inclusion of its bluesy guitar soloing.

Telling Lies comes back to the Halford-sounding style, but with Ripper’s vocals very reminiscent of his work on Judas Priest’s Demolition album. Again the guitar work is excellent, with a very modern metal sound similar to Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall. More heavy riffing for I Don’t Need This, again with the modern metal tone but with a very traditional metal bridge and solo. Guitarists Johnny Comprix and Dwane Bihary are excelling themselves.

The trend continues through Words of Wisdom and My Last Words before the albums closing moments of utter brilliance. Your Time Has Come thrashes like classic Megadeth, Ripper screeching, before a melodic, slow-burning bridge and Ripper’s best vocals of the whole album. The song builds back up with some of the best rhythm work so far from ex-Winters Bane man Dennis Hayes (bass) and drummer Eric Elkins before closing with some brilliant harmony leads from the guitarists.

Final track The Faith is a fist-pumping, sing-a-long rocker with a crushing, slow riff behind Ripper’s mid-range vocals (the kind the rest of us have a chance of managing!). The crowd-participation-ready bridge leads us out to the final barrage of rapid-fire drumming and we’re done.

Metal album of the year so far.

“ awe-inspiring ”

Tracklist: Scream Machine / And… You Will Die / Save Me / The Human Race / Coming At You / Dreams Come True / Telling Lies / I Don’t Need This / Words of Wisdom / My Last Words / Your Time Has Come / The Faith

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Heavy Metal, Beyond Fear