German melodic extreme metal act FAR BEYOND mark their return with their third studio album, “The End of My Road,” on February 16 via their new label home Prosthetic Records. FAR BEYOND’s latest full-length is an ambitious and fastidiously curated amalgam of melodeath, symphonic and power metal, covering themes of courage and heart in the face of depression and hardship. The album has seven songs. Four of them are long, and the others are short. Let’s see how the album flows.

“Midwinter” is first. Soft, charming acoustic guitars combine with strings that sing with solemnity. The composition has all the ingredients in their proper places. “A Symphony of Light” boasts a ten-minute running time, and immediately, I am hit with WINTERSUN vibes in the music. The vocals are done in both clean and harsh styles, at times with harmonies. The music has that “epic” or “opus” quality to it as well, with earnest melodies, bright spots, and ultra-heavy and dark passages around every corner. The pacing varies as well…sometimes slow and calculated while other times he pushed the throttle as far as it will go.

“Ad Infinitas” is a short segue piece, connecting the first lengthy song to “Tempus Fugit.” Chanting clean vocals lead to a veritable choir of harmonies, with the pepper of harsh vocals in between. It’s the classic “beauty and the beast” type of approach to the music, and the chorus is rich and overflowing. There are also tender moments in the song. “A Wish Upon a Star” is another short segue song. As with any wish, it carries with it the hopes and dreams of thought. “From the Stars and the Crescent Moon” enters with a heavier and more aggressive stomp, and you can also hear trademark Power Metal elements here. There is a pause at the half-way mark, where charming symphonics take over, before a guitar solo leads the charge through the end, which is a bloody but victorious battle.

The title track closes the album. There is a mystical lead in, and you get the sense that the story is going to end well. Although the harsh vocals still have a bite, their chill subsides a little as the weather warms. The heavy structures are still strong, but little by little, there are overcome with the light of innocence. Overall, considering this was a one-person project, the compositions are crafted with meticulous care, and the arrangements are energetic and sweeping. I like the positive spin on the album, and fans of complex but accessible music will eat this with a spoon.