Band:	Beyond The Dust
Album:	Khepri
Style:	Djent, Progressive metal
Release date:	November 10, 2014
A review by:	Ilham

01. Rise
02. Clarity
03. After The Light
04. Relief
05. Last Breath
06. Zero
07. Silence And Sorrow
08. The Edge Of Earth And Sea Part 1 - The Tears Of Departures
09. The Edge Of Earth And Sea Part 2 - The Fear Of The Journey
10. The Edge Of Earth And Sea Part 3 - The Bliss Of The Gathering

Non. Please, Monsieur, giving un cohesive theme to ze release is not enough to call something un "concept album".

French and biting more than they can chew, Beyond The Dust have earned themselves a couple of baguette jokes and a poorly mimicked accent. Why? Because even this likable bunch of people who seem to have a lot of humour oversold their bread a little by stating "Khepri could be compared to Dream Theater's Metropolis Part 2 mixed with Meshuggah's Catch 33, with a bit of Periphery". I'm not saying bands shouldn't praise their own material but there are ways of selling it that won't create high expectations which then are not met. As a consequence of my slight irritation, I'll try to make this review short and easy - rather the opposite of Khepri. Which unfortunately displays most of the cons of prog and djent in a stretched hour-long début.

It is with a lot of regret that I write the words above, because there is enough potential here to make a really decent album. The metalcore-like dual vocals add a touch of originality and sheer aggression to the mix, even though the cleans get too nasal too often. But let's pretend we didn't hear it. I'll also pretend not to hear the thin production that doesn't give much relief to an album supposed to be a journey through the valleys awaiting us after death. Although, you'll be happy to read that I have not much to complain about when it comes to the level of dexterity these guys put in the handling of their instruments. Indeed, I have the feeling all Khepri's flaws result from average songwriting and too much confidence in their musicianship - nothing that can't be improved.

Beyond The Dust manages to shine brighter in their shorter tracks, such as in the barely three-minutes-long "Last Breath". That song embodies exactly the happy union of brutal djent and soft prog of which I would have loved to get a much bigger slice. Indeed, past that killer title, the Parisians lose themselves in syncopated prog noodling with violent bursts of Meshuggah ass-kissing. In plainer words, even though isolated bits really sound stellar, I don't feel that natural progression within each and from track to track - the one I would literally expect from a progressive album.

But you know, us Frogs are resourceful in the kitchen, we keep day-old bread and turn it into what you American guys even ended up calling French toast. In the same way, I'm sure the next batch of brioche Beyond The Dust have in the oven will make me forget the lack of flavour in Khepri. Therefore hoping I won't have to make you read through my stale - *badum tsst!* - jokes next time.