The debut album from Germany’s Beyond the Bridge is a progressive metal concept album. According to the band biography, the album ‘The Old Man and the Spirit’ deals with the polarity of human sensousness and superhuman awareness. The latter is embodied by the character of the Spirit. She is the personification of all wisdom and awareness that is unachievable to mankind, however, lacks of the ability to feel. Her opponent, the character of the Old Man, is presented as a bon vivant who has lived through all highs and lows of human sensation. Steadied by his old age, he searches for a sense, for coherence, for the meaning of his life in the maelstrom of transciency.
As the story unfolds, the Spirit convinces the Old Man that there is no way for Man to overcome the limits of human perception. They can only be transgressed with the help of the Spirit’s wisdom. Aware of human curiosity, the Spirit offers to answer all of the Old Man’s questions – in exchange for his experiences and feelings. A high price, as they are inseparably connected to the Old Man’s memories.

As you can tell by the description of the album’s concept, this is thinking man’s (or woman’s) progressive metal. Musically, the band is an amalgamation of Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Spock’s Beard, Ayreon, Avantasia, and Ark but they weave their influences into an original sound all their own.

Playing the role of “The Old Man” is vocalist (also of Sinbreed) Herbie Langhans and female vocalist Dilenya Mar is “The Spirit”. Langhans vocals are aggressive and powerful while Mar adds a smoky, bluesy softness with her voice. Together their voices blend perfectly to tell the story. The instrumentation on the album is flawless, running the gamut of epic metal, 70’s prog, jazz, blues, and rock. Peter Degenfeld (guitars), Christopher Tarnow (keyboards), Dominik Stotzem (bass), Fabian Maier (drums), and Simon Oberender (keyboards/guitars) are all top-notch players.  

“The Call”, the introduction to character of “The Old Man”is a heavy epic song that has Langhans handling the vocal chores. “The Apparition” introduces Dilenya Mar as “The Spirit” an excellent duet with Herbie. The vocal melodies and harmonies as well as the overall production of the vocals are stellar. With each song you are drawn into the world of “The Old Man and The Spirit”. On  “World of Wonders” and it’s intro “The Spring of It All”, Dilenya’s bluesy vocals really shine. “Doorway to Salvation” begins with a thrash metal drumbeat and transforms into a progressive groove. “The Struggle” features vocals theatrics from Herbie that really tells the story of ‘The Old Man’s” journey to find the meaning of his life while Dilenya’s “Spirit” staccato voice is overlapping throughout to great dramatic effect. One of my favorite songs on the album is “Where The Earth And Sky Meet” which has a Transiberian Orchestra/Dream Theater “Scenes From A Memory vibe to it complete with a “choir vocal” at the end. One listen and you will understand what I mean. The albums final track “All A Man Can Do” ends the sonic journey with an melancholy yet epic flourish. If “The Old Man and The Spirit” is a musical sign of what is to come in 2012, it’s going to be a GREAT year!!

Rating: 10