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Be'lakor - Stone's Reach



9 | 1244 votes |
Release date: 20 June 2009
Style: Melodic death metal

Owners:

1152 have it
122 want it
1 trades it


01. Venator
02. From Scythe To Sceptre
03. Outlive The Hand
04. Sun's Delusion
05. Held In Hollows
06. Husks
07. Aspect
08. Countless Skies

The Best Melodeath/Gothenburg Metal Album Of 2009
Top 20 albums of 2009: 1
Top 200 albums of all time: 36

Additional info
Produced by Warren Hammond and Be'lakor.
Recorded with Warren Hammond and Phil Forbes at Pennydrop Audio, Melbourne in the early months of 2009.
Piano recorded at Sing Sing Recording Studios, Melbourne.
Mastered at Crystal Mastering, Melbourne, 2009.

Cover artwork - 'Head of Medusa' by Gianfrancesco A. (geanfrancois.deviantart.com/gfrphotoproduction@live.it).

Staff review by
Raiden
Rating:
9.0
After hearing and reviewing the first offering of Melodic Death Metal from Australia's Be'lakor I found it to be a rather promising debut. The promise wasn't misplaced either as the band have backed themselves up rather nicely with this new album entitled Stone's Reach. While their previous release The Frail Tide was good, the new album is cleaner production-wise and I think a deeper piece of work as well.

Read more ››
published 02.10.2009 | Comments (42)

Guest review by
Njord
Rating:
8.2
When I listened to this album for the first time my first thought was "this is clearly melodic death, but there's something about it", something that marks the line between another copy and a new way of design from the same prototype. Despite the guitars following Gothenburg death metal, one innovation of this band is the demarcation of that style because there's no chorus/verse imposed law, there's no fear of falling into doom or entering solos at low speed. It's very important to be creative inside the musical genres and this Australian group achieve it in a brilliant way.

Read more ››
published 18.09.2009 | Comments (9)

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Comments

Comments: 76   Visited by: 2699 users
02.01.2010 - 17:10
Elen Rotrikan
Cynic
Venator's intro is amazing!
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29.01.2010 - 03:48
Rating: 6
Daggon
Underpaid M.D.
I find this album booooring, really I don't understand why this album is so praised, for me it didn't survive the hype I heard from many people before listening to this.
----
"Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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23.02.2010 - 02:27
Rating: 10
Ander
One of the most underrated bands around (mainly due to them being relatively new, though) at the moment. Stone's Reach is stellar work to me, reminds me of Scandinavian Melodic Death, with blends of Opeth and Agalloch. I really hope these guys manage to earn the success they definitely deserve, eventually.
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24.02.2010 - 21:55
Rating: 7
Paradox0
Unasuming Madnes
VERY melodic. In a certain way not too necessarily a bad thing, but at times I felt that the entire package was just a little bland. I actually loved the beginning acoustic of "Venator" but then just found the follow up a disappointing contrast to the opening. It's not like melody on electric guitar in melodeath can't be on par (look at "moonshield" by In Flames for a great example). But i guess this is more of a truer melodic death metal album than Gothenburg. I do give it credit though, despite finding it a little bland, I doi give credit for the actual creativity aspect of the album (as it does sound all well thought out at least), not to mention it separates itself from other melodeath albums through its sound. Luckily, songs such as "Aspect" and "Full of Skies", end the album on a pretty strong note. Unfortunately, it's not a matter of "finally getting into the groove of the album" as my second spin through left me with the sdame impression.
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26.02.2010 - 01:53
Rating: 9
Novas
The calm bridge solo towards the end of "From Scythe to Sceptre", EPIC. I havent had time to sulk over my recent friend's death...Ya'll probably heard of her: Johnston, PA, old house caught on fire, 16 year died in the fire...yea...Well, i was on her facebook tribute page, looking at her photos. I didnt realize that part in the song was playing & all those memories with her just hit me out of nowhere. This band is one of the very few death metal i like. I cant stand vocals like Cannibal Corpse lol
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01.03.2010 - 07:35
Rating: 9
devosion
It's hard to say how I enjoy this album, because by simple definition this is melodic death metal. And there is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying that. Within though there is a myriad of inspiring and beautifully haunting riffs, chords, and synthesis that detail why the album is as good as it is. While I might be called out for saying it as well, I also sense a certain aspect of Agalloch's grey metal greatness that I envy so much interspersed throughout. All in all a great start to melodic death metal in 2010.
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23.03.2010 - 09:16
Rating: 10
Wow a damn fine album.. I haven't listened to such good doom stuff since 13 or 14 years from Anathema silent enigma era.
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12.04.2010 - 14:00
Rating: 10
Aetherius
Very good album. For me, it took thoroughly listening to their first album, Frail Tide, which i liked much more, to appreciate this one. I think any prog-death or melodic death metal fan will love this. ^^
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12.04.2010 - 15:56
soadbyob
Account deleted
Very good (and underrated) album.
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24.05.2010 - 02:58
Rating: 9
elseif
Very good album
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01.06.2010 - 20:02
Rating: 10
Behdaad
DEAD
I'd give +100 to this masterpiece if I could.
I compare them to Dark Tranquillity, the kings of Melodic Death.
----
As tyranny becomes normality;
We hang at the end of the rope.
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03.06.2010 - 18:47
Abattoir
Staff
Written by Behdaad on 01.06.2010 at 20:02

I'd give +100 to this masterpiece if I could.
I compare them to Dark Tranquillity, the kings of Melodic Death.

Quite decent album indeed...still I prefer the first one more. Though generally I wouldn't compare them to DT, while Be'lakor have much more of progressive parts in their music.
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03.06.2010 - 19:07
Rating: 10
Behdaad
DEAD
Written by Abattoir on 03.06.2010 at 18:47

Written by Behdaad on 01.06.2010 at 20:02

I'd give +100 to this masterpiece if I could.
I compare them to Dark Tranquillity, the kings of Melodic Death.

Quite decent album indeed...still I prefer the first one more. Though generally I wouldn't compare them to DT, while Be'lakor have much more of progressive parts in their music.

Yes you're right.
Be'lakor style is actually Progressive Melodic Death Metal.

I just wanted to show how good are they, so I named DT. I didn't mean anything!
DT are still the Gods of Melodic Death!
----
As tyranny becomes normality;
We hang at the end of the rope.
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03.06.2010 - 21:31
Abattoir
Staff
Written by Behdaad on 03.06.2010 at 19:07

Written by Abattoir on 03.06.2010 at 18:47

Written by Behdaad on 01.06.2010 at 20:02

I'd give +100 to this masterpiece if I could.
I compare them to Dark Tranquillity, the kings of Melodic Death.

Quite decent album indeed...still I prefer the first one more. Though generally I wouldn't compare them to DT, while Be'lakor have much more of progressive parts in their music.

Yes you're right.
Be'lakor style is actually Progressive Melodic Death Metal.

I just wanted to show how good are they, so I named DT. I didn't mean anything!
DT are still the Gods of Melodic Death!

I'm sure you didn't

Of course they are...and they always be
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24.08.2010 - 04:57
Rating: 9
warrior_of_ice
Great album, listening to it now
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06.09.2010 - 19:51
Rating: 9
Bushwookie
I love Be'lakor... I'd give this album a solid 9.
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06.09.2010 - 23:22
Wishmaster
Account deleted
Very beautiful, melodic, and just great.
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07.09.2010 - 11:23
Reza
Account deleted
Not good as their previous album.
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03.10.2010 - 19:57
Boxcar Willy
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I like Be'lakors style, it seems to be very... odd? i guess? i dont know...
----
14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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19.12.2010 - 13:27
Timmeh
Dudeman
Wow every song on this album is amazing! You won't find any better when it comes to rhythm and lead guitars intertwining and harmonising together so beautifully.
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22.12.2010 - 01:35
Daydream Nation
Account deleted
Way better than The Frail Tide.
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03.02.2011 - 13:31
Rating: 10
Jusbaked
This band is nowhere near as popular as they should be.
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25.06.2011 - 04:41
Rating: 10
Pyramid God
I originally had it an 8, then a 9, and after many many listens I finally realize its a 10.
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28.06.2011 - 18:11
Rating: 10
Destructo
I think this can be considered as one of the landmark albums in the Melo-Death genre and Metal as a whole !!
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28.06.2011 - 19:09
Rating: 9
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Staff
Written by Destructo on 28.06.2011 at 18:11

I think this can be considered as one of the landmark albums in the Melo-Death genre and Metal as a whole !!

I don't know if I'd go so far as saying it's a landmark for metal as a whole, but it definitely raised the level of respectability for melodic death metal, along with Insomnium's Above the Weeping World.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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29.06.2011 - 18:29
Rating: 10
Destructo
Hmmm.....I don't know man. I currently have a collection of about 888 albums of which not more than 40 have recieved a 10 from me, which is just above 4%. So it is clear that I dont give 10s that easily unless something REALLY blows my mind. This was one of them. But ya, as U mentioned...."Above The Weeping World" definitely is a stunning album. Another one which comes to mind would be In Mourning's debut. But this one managed to impress the hell out of me, to be honest.
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03.12.2011 - 06:55
Rating: 9
Melkor
I luv this album..fav track-aspect!!gr8 talent frm down under..cant w8 fr d new album..:banger2:
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01.01.2012 - 06:23
Boxcar Willy
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Written by Melkor on 03.12.2011 at 06:55

I luv this album..fav track-aspect!!gr8 talent frm down under..cant w8 fr d new album..:banger2:

*Face-Palm*
----
14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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02.01.2012 - 09:38
Rating: 9
Melkor
Written by Boxcar Willy on 01.01.2012 at 06:23

Written by Melkor on 03.12.2011 at 06:55

I luv this album..fav track-aspect!!gr8 talent frm down under..cant w8 fr d new album..:banger2:

*Face-Palm*

din like d album or wat?
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02.01.2012 - 09:52
Rating: 9
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Staff
Written by Melkor on 02.01.2012 at 09:38
din like d album or wat?

I think he was referring to your unique typing skills.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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