"Beyond Inferno" is the second full-length from NIGHTBREED, hailing from Greece, and it is their first release in three years.  The band formed in 2010 and are from the most ancient of cities, Athens.  Genre purists are without doubt the target demographic whether revealed or realized.  Will Metal warriors find a take away from the Thrash band, a dimension to help them burn brighter than the unholy rest?

The album opens after an intro that could have been lifted from the "Dragon Age" series video games, and gaming is about as close to classical as this gets.  The title track is next, and it is a fitting introduction to the band.  The following track, "Psychotic Crime," has its own unique groove that could lend itself to TESTAMENT's material before the track shifts gears and proceeds to take off properly in a manner that could be thought of as trying to emulate early SODOM or SLAYER.  Before moving on, it must be stated that I adore all the band's mentioned thus far along with DESTRUCTION, VENOM, and KREATOR.

In the sixth track, "Coven of the Soulless," the combination of tremolo picking and palm-muting help bridge the gap between the band and its forebears.  This is, however, the only element close to modern on the record.  When the band does attempt to perform break downs, it ends up being simply a thankful respite from the constant snare attack on the one of every beat.  "Prowling Ever" is the eighth track, and one in which the band tries very hard to sound like VENOM.  Unfortunately, though it may be sincere, but it lacks both edge and finesse.  The echo on the vocals when the singer sings "raining/reigning? In blood" is about as dangerous as "Parent Skate Free Night" at the 1986 Skating Rink when people over 12 actually went to places like that.  This was before an internet-regulated sexual felony registry as well, though.

Where NIGHTBREED fall short is in the short questionnaire form, figuratively taken before an album is recorded.  The band simply, in trying to emulate all their heroes, checks every box.  What happens after is over-saturation of the genre itself where the band has little to no identity of its own.  When it attempts to pull it together it ends up sounding like SLAYER playing a VENOM song with the production of a decently affordable studio unfortunately helmed by someone whose idea of heavy is NEIL DIAMOND.  The band just lacks personality in their attempt to try and please everyone.  There is nothing to set them apart and endear them to their audience.  While I appreciate the sentiment, the band really must settle upon some more concise parameters which to frame their sound.  Choosing to focus the band's efforts in a few more select directions could help them work on their points of attack being infused with more originality.  Until then, though, I cannot recommend this.