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Beneath the Sky

What Demons Do to Saints (2007)
Victory Records

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Contributed by: crazytoledo
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on January 23rd 2007

Back in 2004 I started to get into the metalcore genre. There were a number of bands that had an original take on the genre at the time and a number of releases that were somewhat praiseworthy. However, since that time the style has experience an even greater saturation and a number those bands’ followups were disappointments. Bands are simply ripping off bands that were originally ripping off bands that took an influence or two from At the Gates / Swedish metal in general.

Enter Beneath the Sky and their full-length debut, What Demons Do to Saints, which includes four songs from their demo re-done and seven new songs. From some of the song titles, including “Falling in Love with Cold Hands,” to the clichéd cover art, it’s entirely apparent the direction that this album is heading in, which isn’t a good thing for Beneath the Sky or Victory Records.

With so many metalcore bands saturating the genre, it’s only an inevitability that there will be similarities between bands. Sometimes it even gets to the point where it seems a band is almost trying to rip off the original band. Bands like Darkest Hour manage to make it work because they at least impersonate an outstanding band, like the aforementioned At the Gates, and have added their own take on the style over the years, becoming one of the genre's best. Beneath the Sky, however, is a completely different story, as they seem to be highly content with ripping off Haste the Day. From the raspy shout and clean singing around the chorus to the pointless breakdowns and riffing, the album is screaming Haste the Day.

Unlike Haste the Day, though, Beneath the Sky fail at crafting memorable choruses and end up creating an entirely disposable album that is too monotonous for its own good. “7861” and “A Grave Mistake” are all you need to listen to if you want to know what the rest of the album sounds like. Sure, some of the parts in the songs might lead to an entertaining live show, but the song pummels the listener with generic and tedious metallic riffing for most of the song before throwing in unnecessary singing, all topped off with several meaningless breakdowns. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Beneath the Sky’s What Demons Do to Saints is nothing more than just another nail in the metalcore coffin. The novelty of combining shouting and singing over countless breakdowns has long worn off and apparently Beneath the Sky didn’t catch the memo.

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Unconscious (February 26, 2007)

Oh my goodness, you can't be serious... Can you? i can't tell you you're right or wrong because everyone has opinions...but, Every person on the earth is BORN with DIFFERENT voices, and Beneath The Sky's screamer has a different scream and voice than that of Jimmy from old Haste The Day, but come on, are you seriously complaining because the guys real scream sounds close to that of Haste The Day?
Dude get over yourself. People don't, and can't imitate a scream, they can only posses the tone of what they're born with. That being why it's remarkable how Beneath The Sky can go from such a wide spectrum of deep screams like that of old Underoath (Cries of the Past) to the high metal shreik of Zao or Jimmy of Haste The Day.. but seriously you need to be more logical. A voice is a voice and you can't change yours. They freakin rock anyway, without your support they seem to be doing well enough.

LaredoKid (January 28, 2007)

"Cincinatti Metalcore is defined by Beneath the Sky".Well that just speaks volumes about your beloved city.

Anonymous (January 28, 2007)

I know the guys from Beneath The Sky personally and they are great musicians. You're just a critic who I'm sure hasn't even seen the great performance that these guys can put on. The fans are in love with these guys and their album sales will make up for anything trash talk that this website has to say about them. Anyone who's with me, let these people know. Cincinnati Metalcore is defined by Beneath The Sky.

LaredoKid (January 26, 2007)

This is garbage,when will the fucking core trend die,I used to listen metal all the time before brekdowns and open chord chugging took the place of technical riffs and complex solos.

Anonymous (January 26, 2007)

Do you know that Victory is trying to sell this as a "Christian" album to that market? Stupid.

Anonymous (January 25, 2007)

well,bands like mastodon and lamb of god are popular,and i definitely wouldn't call them not talented,there is great metal and then there's bad metal,in this case really bad metal

TrailorParkThrash (January 25, 2007)

bands like this are the reason you hear so many people say that they hate metal,I remember when the bands that were popular were the ones playing technical riffs with mind blowing solos,since when did having no talent become cool

TrailorParkThrash (January 25, 2007)

chug chug chug...........chug chuuuuug chug,we're so effin metal,but with a touch hardcore,lol i'm pre tending to be on the band members from beneath the sky...........chug chug

Satelliteyrs (January 25, 2007)

stuff is crazy

Anonymous (January 25, 2007)

I think you mean it's improved sevenfold.

Anonymous (January 24, 2007)

good review toledo, but branch out a little more you know? i love that your reviews are honest, but they're also a little too predictable. keep up the good work though, your writing has improved tenfold.

nocigar (January 24, 2007)

score is for "metal-core".

Anonymous (January 24, 2007)

i thought metal core was the combination of metal and hardcore? like hatebreed, terror and the chugga chugga likes.
darkest hour is the combination of gothenburg and black (imo)

Anonymous (January 24, 2007)

ryanrockwell (January 23, 2007)

we played in a band challenge with these guys once!
teehee

Anonymous (January 23, 2007)

I would agree wholeheartedly with the person below me. Cradle of Filth are instrumental in taking black metal from the raw sound that it should embody, and imbuing it with a level of gayness that surpasses even terrible metalcore records such as this one. Listen to Mayhem's title track of the "Deathcrush" album, then give any of Cradle's symphonic crapfests a spin, and you will agree right away.

Anonymous (January 23, 2007)

I blame Cradle of Filth.

-Will

Anonymous (January 23, 2007)

Score is for the cd. Anyone know if the new Piebald is any good?

Ianw (January 23, 2007)

Meyham. Varg stabbed Euronymus in what was either two douchbags fighting over who was "eviler" or two douchbags complaining about money. Dead killed himself under the urging of Varg. Band poses with Dead's corpse, and uses it for an ep cover.

How did Blackmetal go from murder and white supremmicism to stadiums, kiss makeup, and portly gothic chicks?

wentz_equals_death (January 23, 2007)

ha i won't pretend to know shit about mayhem's music, but i do know that one guy ate the brains of another guy who shot himself. i brought that band up because maybe some of these bands should incorporate that sorta thing into their act. you know, killing themselves and each other.

Anonymous (January 23, 2007)

How did we get talking about Mayhem? Because Mayhem are pretty cool. Anyway, Crazytoledo, you should stop listening to (mostly) metalcore. You obviously have gotten to the point where you know the genre better than the bands actually playing it, so maybe you should just... move on. It's not worth it, to keep saying, "this is mediocre, that sucks." Find something new, that you like. Or something.
-feeeding5000

wentz_equals_death (January 23, 2007)

i just read about the norwegian metal band, mayhem ...

if you don't know the story go to allmusic and read their bio. i guess i can't vouch for the verity of said bio, but god damn. i bet they are way better than this band too, by the way