BEYOND THE BRIDGE - The Old Man and The Spirit CD Review

ARTIST: Beyond the Bridge
TITLE: The Old Man and the Spirit
LABEL: Frontiers Records
YEAR: 2012
REVIEWED BY: Trystan MacDonald

When you read the history of how the band, Beyond the Bridge, came together, it’s almost as complicated as their debut concept album.

“The Old Man and the Spirit” is a concept album revolving around the common theme of ‘The Spirit’: the personification of all knowledge, but lacking emotion and ‘The Old Man’, who represents human emotion and experience. ‘The Spirit’ is vocalized by the female singer of the band, Dilenya Mar and the ‘The Old Man’ by Herbie Langhans. The entire album is an ambitious idea, but I find that the overall work fails to deliver.

There is no doubt that the band is comprised of talented musicians from all different studies of music. This becomes very clear through the very beautiful and deep melodic songs found throughout the album. The strength of the album, unfortunately, is also its weakness. I would have preferred to hear some heavier songs on the album. Songs that emphasize the power and anger that humanity holds. It only makes sense considering that ‘The Old Man’ is meant to represent human will and emotion. Without the raw anger and power of heavy metal I found that the album felt like it was dragging along after the first couple of songs, due to the very slow tempo. What started as a beautiful melodic album twisted into an endurance test. With the slow endless harmony of the vocals being backed up by slow guitar and keyboard, I found myself falling asleep. Without powerful guitar riffs and savage drums to interrupt the slow progression from song to song the album loses the concept it was trying to create.

It’s a good album, but having been in the making for so long, I find that “The Old Man and the Spirit” fails to deliver anything truly spectacular and is definitely the weakest concept album I’ve ever heard.

TRACKLISTING:

1. The Call
2. The Apparition
3. Triumph Of Irreality
4. The Spring Of It All
5. World Of Wonders
6. The Primal Demand
7. Doorway To Salvation
8. The Struggle
9. The Difference Is Human
10. Where The Earth And Sky Meet
11. All A Man Can Do