SECTION X

Awesome album - I'm impressed. Opens with a track sounding like a soundbite from the movie Resident Evil - then we have 'The Path of Darkness' - a powerful song with superb vocals and excellent playing throughout. Next up is 'Shadow Self', another track with movie aspirations - surely a vampire/werewolf epic would benefit from it. 'Sleeping Beauty' reminds me of Kamelot (no bad thing) and showcases superb vocals and nice guitar sections. The next song is 'The Dark Side' and has Rob Zombie influences - the vocals are a standout (again) and the overall musicianship is pretty high. 'Portrait F in Dark Waters' is a piano showcase accentuated with some guitar in places - it segues into 'Ecstacy Arise' which keeps up the Kamelot feel. Beyond Twilight are a prog metal band who fit quite nicely into the niche created by Symphony X, Redemption, Ark and Kamelot amongst others. The final track is the title track, 'Section X'. At just over 9 minutes it is the longest on the album. I have to say that it is not the magnum opus you might hope for - its good, but I wanted it to be .... better. Nevermind, the hard work was done prior to this track anyway.

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Posted Wednesday, December 28, 2005 | Review this album | Report (Review #62042)

Outstanding release from this band called Beyond Tweilight. They are something between Symphony X, Kamelot, Rapshody, but in a good way not a copy. They try to compose fresh and well played prog music, and most of the time they succeded. They sound very tight and solid in my opinion, with great keys combined with powerfull guitars. Sleeping beauty sounds like Kamelot , but is Ok. This is no clone band of what you are use to listen so my rating is 4 stars, and prog metal fans get it, worth every track.

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Posted Sunday, March 11, 2007 | Review this album | Report (Review #114850)

This is BEYOND TWILIGHT's second album released in 2005. The big change from the debut is the new singer Kelly Sundown Carpenter an American vocalist from the band OUTWORLD. I actually purchased this just because he was singing on it because i'm a big fan of his. I'm one of the few I think who prefer this album to the debut. I like the vocals better and I find this one more interesting and challenging.Tommy Hansen helped mix it and the sound is fantastic.

"Be Careful It's My Head Too!" is a short intro track with processed spoken words that end with "You are in Section X". "The Path Of Darkness" opens with outbursts of sound until it stays heavy with vocals. It settles back then kicks back in before 3 minutes as themes are repeated.The vocals are so good. "Shadow Of Self" opens with heaviness with these background synths. Nice.The tempo picks up quickly and vocals join in. I like the scream 4 minutes in then the synths take over as the drums pound. Ripping guitar after 5 minutes. "Sleeping Beauty" is heavy to start then it settles to an unusually lighter sound including the vocals. It turns nasty after 2 minutes then back to the lighter vocal / piano led sound as contrasts continue. An interesting soundscape before 5 minutes as it gets theatrical.

"The Dark Side" is intense with spoken words then it picks up with vocals. Nice rhythm section with synths 3 minutes in as Kelly continues to spit out the words. Intense stuff. "Portait F In Dark Waters" opens with piano and synths then the tempo picks up before settling again with piano out front. A cool instrumental. "Ecstacy Arise" is heavy and we don't get vocals until before 1 1/2 minutes. A thunderous rhythm section here. Love the instrumental section 5 1/2 minutes in. Vocals are back after 6 1/2 minutes. "Section X" has this bombastic and punchy sound early on with vocals. A guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in then the tempo picks up a minute later. It settles back before 6 minutes with vocals.

This didn't blow me away by any means but it's one of those albums that grows slowly which I like.

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Posted Thursday, November 25, 2010 | Review this album | Report (Review #333834)

Released four years after their debut, 'Section X' gives us a second dark and twisted glimpse into the mindscape of Danish prog metal group, Beyond Twilight. With another concept album based around themes of cloning, manipulation and perversion, it's a pretty bleak story, but it makes for some g ... (read more)

Report this review (#1867030) | Posted by martindavey87 | Monday, January 15, 2018 | Review Permanlink

Beyond Twilight released a trio of records in the early 2000's, each with a different vocalist (it is a demanding job to be a Beyond Twilight voice, as you will see) that made fans out of the few people that have actually heard of them, before going into a lengthy hiatus. Section X sees the band ... (read more)

Report this review (#1823280) | Posted by Progrussia | Wednesday, November 15, 2017 | Review Permanlink

BEYOND TWILIGHT GO ABOVE & BEYOND BY CREATING A FASCINATING & TRULY BIZARRE CONCEPTUAL ALBUM.  I shall say first off that BEYOND TWILIGHT have a great album here with the release of SECTION X. SECTION X is a brilliant conceptual album based on some pretty heavy and interesting Sci-fi themes and ... (read more)

Report this review (#985693) | Posted by progbethyname | Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | Review Permanlink

This album is only almost as good as The Devil's Hall of Fame. The music is more complex, but it is slightly behind in melodies and the concept (although good), is nowhere near as good as that of The Devil's Hall of Fame. Many of the tracks sound quite similar, too, with one exception - "Sleepin ... (read more)

Report this review (#134182) | Posted by BobFrank | Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | Review Permanlink

I am a big fan on Jorn Lande and was disappointed of his absence but was really surprised with Kelly Sundown Carpenter, that he shows almost the same quality, even sometimes better. His vocal style is very similar to Jorn Lande and it helps the band to follow the "The Devils Hall Of Fame"'s big s ... (read more)

Report this review (#107305) | Posted by | Friday, January 12, 2007 | Review Permanlink

It´s a bit difficult to get into this music for a usual, normal listener. But when you get into this the result is fantastic. "Section X" is a bizzare mixture of very complicated, technical structures and a beautiful grading melodies. But it´s not only the technical music at its best, Finn Zie ... (read more)

Report this review (#103920) | Posted by archivep | Thursday, December 21, 2006 | Review Permanlink

With this brilliant second album, Beyond Twilight proved they were one of the leading band in the progressive metal scene today. Led by Finn Zierler on the keyboards, the band managed a superb follow-up to their great debut. About the album. A great mix of simple metal riffs and extravagant pas ... (read more)

Report this review (#80508) | Posted by mono | Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | Review Permanlink

have to admit it I started out listening to this CD with some negative thoughts but after a few plays I found myself completely hooked ! If you are expecting the same old Dream Theater Symphony X clones forget it. This CD is very original and theres not a bad song on it in fact they all sound ... (read more)

Report this review (#65284) | Posted by White Feather | Tuesday, January 17, 2006 | Review Permanlink

The second studio effort of this excellent prog metal band at first could be a disappointment due to the absence of Jorn Lande. However, fortunately Finn Zierler found a good substitute in Kelly Sundown Carpenter. The guy shows a very solid vocal work and the album is somewhat in the spirit of ... (read more)

Report this review (#65264) | Posted by Asiostygius | Tuesday, January 17, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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