"I am your guide out of the dark (at the back of beyond)" "I hear your cries although they are gone (although they are gone)."
The Austrian band Visions of Atlantis shows its flair for reminding listeners of Nightwish as "At the Back of Beyond" opens with its gothic-toned symphonic power metal. I'd try to name some of the instruments used, but I can only tell that some seem to be strings (maybe on keyboard?). At any rate, Visions of Atlantis offers symphonic metal music that is skilled and catchy throughout.
Okay, so I'm not the biggest fan of Mario Plank's rough style of singing in this song (and evidently throughout the Trinity album), but it's much-praised by fans of the vocal style. I personally prefer the operatic voice of the new American singer Melissa Ferlaak. Nonetheless, both suit 'At the Back of Beyond" and meld well into the song.
"Your rigid eyes stare into gloom; I'm pouring out my grief to you. Should I escape?" opens the song. It's a darker theme than you may want younger children to hear, but it speaks of a hope of escape from the trap. Okay, so it seems to be talking about a corpse with the "rigid eyes" and "I am by your side, but you are still alone". It's fantasy, not crass or anything.
And speaking of that, the language in "At the Back of Beyond is fully clean. Not even innuendo or references to lust appear in the song.
Overall, I think it's one of the top examples of symphonic power metal.
Visions of Atlantis currently offers most of the song as a free download from their site.
Lyrics: 4/5
Music: 5/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 9/10
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