Once more: to play Old School Metal genres, the bands must have in mind that they have a hard work on their hands, because if you're trying to make what was already done, someone will be your accuser and reveal the truth. And "Beyond the Realm", the first album from Italian duet DIABOLIC NIGHT shows that the band must evolve a bit more. Once more, it seems that someone thinks that SODOM, DESTRUCTION or IRON ANGEL's old works needs to be kept alive. No, they didn't, because their music is carved in Metal's history by their releases. And on this album, another recollection of the Speed/Thrash Black Metal from the bands names above. Of course the band isn't a total loss of time, because some melodic leads of the guitars are very good (influence by NWOBHM). It's not enough to save the album, but it is to see that the band has musical talent.

Mario Scarpari (mixing, engineering) and Patrick W. Engel (mastering) efforts were wasted, because the wannabe sound quality is trying every single moment to be a recording from the 80's. Moldy, crude and unnecessarily poor in terms of layers, if the idea was to be like "Persecution Mania", "Winds of War" or "Eternal Devastation", better think twice: those albums were done in such way because the bands had to do it, it wasn't a choice, but a matter of resources. The fast and energetic "Sovereign of Doom", the good rhythmic work presented on "Crescent Moon Rise", the Germanic energy and melodies of "In Retribution", the good guitar work of "Odyssey" and on "Reach for the Night" are the ones that show how they are really talented, but all the efforts are turned into a waste due this sick idea of "mommy-I-want-to-be-a-80's-Metal-band". If these words seem to be a joke or even an irony, hear the album and see how they're true.

Of course, DIABOLICAL NIGHT deserves a better sound quality in the future, and a producer to put their musical potential out, someone to guide the band into what could be better for them (once more: Joel Grind could be a fine choice), but for now, "Beyond the Realm" is just a poor recollection of clichés.