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Beyond The Bridge - The Old Man And The Spirit



8.5 | 89 votes |
Release date: 20 January 2012
Style: Progressive metal, Progressive rock, Symphonic metal

Owners:

67 have it
18 want it


01. The Call
02. The Apparition
03. Triumph Of Irreality
04. The Spring Of It All
05. World Of Wonders
06. The Primal Demand
07. Doorway To Salvation
08. The Struggle
09. The Difference Is Human
10. Where The Earth And Sky Meet
11. All A Man Can Do
12. All A Man Can Do [orchestral version] [Japanese bonus]

Top 20 albums of 2012: 8

Additional info
Release dates:
January 18, 2012 (Japan)
January 20, 2012 (Europe)
January 24, 2012 (North America)

Staff review by
Milena
Rating:
N/A
In loving memory of Simon Oberender

Even though Beyond The Bridge's debut has been out since the beginning of the year, I didn't check it out until this month. The thing is, while all reports on The Old Man And The Spirit promised a proggasm, the words such as "epic" and "ambitious" popped up in every single one and that was a bit off-putting. Mr. Epic and I have had nothing but bitter arguments for a long while because I can't put up with his tediousness anymore. Now he puts salt in my coffee when I'm not looking, and I only make my side of the bed. I was too leery to approach him again.

Read more ››
published 28.09.2012 | Comments (12)

07.04.2012
A proper recommendation of conceptual prog rock/metal is in order. A début album years in the making, beautiful and technically complex melodies, orchestrations, male and female vocals, often layered and following different leads, excellent musicianship - this is Beyond The Bridge. If you want a reference, bit of Haken's Visions might give you some footing you seek, though, don't build your expectations on that.

Hear a sample here, or a full track "The Apparition" at the homepage here.

Ivor's picks | More picks ››
Thumbs up: Dane Train, Ag Fox, Milena, Nefarious

Found in 21 lists
Top lists



Comments

Comments: 13   Visited by: 340 users
17.04.2012 - 03:49
Rating: 10
Byners

Great album... I am totally surprised ;o
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"Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost..."
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19.04.2012 - 06:37
Rating: 10
Deathic

I like this album, very good music... Surprise of the year... yeah
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12.09.2012 - 18:49
Fredd
Account deleted
God fucking damn it. All A Man Can Do is one of the best songs I've heard this year.
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15.09.2012 - 20:54
Rating: 9
Starchild

Excellent!
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22.11.2012 - 22:03
Rating: 8
CobiWan1993
Secundum Filium
This album is awesome, it's sad that their keyboardist died though. I love his melodies here.

EDIT:
This is Album of the Year for me. Everything about this album is so heartfelt and passionate. The fact that Simon died has nothing to do with why I think this is the best album of 2012, though it does add some extra weight regardless. RIP
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Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe (Lao Tzu).
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08.11.2013 - 12:29
Rating: 10
gopherhawk2@gmail.co

Wow. Unbelievable.
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Follow your heart, not trends.
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29.05.2014 - 04:08
Rating: 9
BloodJuNkie
Of Egypt
Very nice!
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23.10.2015 - 01:03
Rating: 9
indexqwest

8.55 & 58 votes...where's this album in the 2012's best albums?
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18.12.2016 - 15:16
Rating: 9
yeah1980

Wow, beautiful record!
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"Be water, my friend" (Bruce Lee)
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22.01.2018 - 12:37
Rating: 10
Dum-Grishnahk

This album hasn't got a bad song. Entire album is a masterpiece. All A Man Can Do one of the best symphonic tracks I heard.
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26.04.2020 - 12:12
JoHn Doe

I can't believe 2 people rated this album a 1.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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09.07.2022 - 02:24
Rating: 7
24emd
Theory Snob
Wow this is really good.

Edit: Yep. Gave it a few more listens, and its definitely one of the better prog albums out there, on par with much of Dream Theater's discog. A few dull moments, but almost every track is excellently written and performed, with a variety of influences.
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"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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20.12.2023 - 15:28
Rating: 10
Samot

A great surprise! Sensational album!!
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Um, Dois, Três, Quatro! Yeah! PORRA!!!
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