Biography
Fronted by a vocalist whose early career unfolded in a girl group, the German symphonic metal act Beyond the Black specializes in an expansive, melody-driven approach to the genre. Their 2016 release Lost in Forever and the 2018 follow-up Heart of the Hurricane both reached the national Top Five.
Guitarists Nils Lesser and Christopher Hummels, keyboardist Michael Hauser, bassist Erwin Schmidt, and drummer Tobias Derer formed the band in Mannheim in southwest Germany during 2014. After completing a set of songs, they recruited Jennifer Haben as vocalist; she had claimed victory at age 11 in the 2007 kids’ television talent competition Beste Stimme Gesucht and subsequently performed with the girl group Saphir, assembled from four contest winners. Saphir issued a self-titled Universal album in 2010 that peaked at number 44, after which the label scrapped Haben’s planned solo project and her momentum stalled. Her clear, commanding delivery nevertheless matched the melodic, pop-inflected metal Beyond the Black envisioned.
Power-metal producer Sascha Paeth oversaw their debut, Songs of Love and Death, issued in February 2015 through the Universal-affiliated indie Airforce1. The record entered the German chart at number 12, boosted by Haben’s prior visibility and the band’s first major appearance at the Wacken festival.
Haben took a substantial songwriting role on the next album, Lost in Forever, which was composed largely during touring and issued in haste less than a year after the debut; it reached number four. Soon afterward the male members departed, attributing the split to promotional demands. They parted on good terms, permitting Haben to keep the band name, and she assembled a new lineup featuring guitarists Chris Hermsdörfer and Tobi Lodes, keyboardist Jonas Roßner, bassist Stefan Herkenhoff, and drummer Kai Tschierschky. The refreshed group spent much of 2017 on the road and added bonus tracks to a special edition of Lost in Forever before beginning work on its third album. Heart of the Hurricane appeared on Napalm Records in 2018 and peaked at number five; although Roßner performed on the record, he left prior to its release.
Guitarists Nils Lesser and Christopher Hummels, keyboardist Michael Hauser, bassist Erwin Schmidt, and drummer Tobias Derer formed the band in Mannheim in southwest Germany during 2014. After completing a set of songs, they recruited Jennifer Haben as vocalist; she had claimed victory at age 11 in the 2007 kids’ television talent competition Beste Stimme Gesucht and subsequently performed with the girl group Saphir, assembled from four contest winners. Saphir issued a self-titled Universal album in 2010 that peaked at number 44, after which the label scrapped Haben’s planned solo project and her momentum stalled. Her clear, commanding delivery nevertheless matched the melodic, pop-inflected metal Beyond the Black envisioned.
Power-metal producer Sascha Paeth oversaw their debut, Songs of Love and Death, issued in February 2015 through the Universal-affiliated indie Airforce1. The record entered the German chart at number 12, boosted by Haben’s prior visibility and the band’s first major appearance at the Wacken festival.
Haben took a substantial songwriting role on the next album, Lost in Forever, which was composed largely during touring and issued in haste less than a year after the debut; it reached number four. Soon afterward the male members departed, attributing the split to promotional demands. They parted on good terms, permitting Haben to keep the band name, and she assembled a new lineup featuring guitarists Chris Hermsdörfer and Tobi Lodes, keyboardist Jonas Roßner, bassist Stefan Herkenhoff, and drummer Kai Tschierschky. The refreshed group spent much of 2017 on the road and added bonus tracks to a special edition of Lost in Forever before beginning work on its third album. Heart of the Hurricane appeared on Napalm Records in 2018 and peaked at number five; although Roßner performed on the record, he left prior to its release.
Albums
W: O: A Acoustic Clash - The Lockdown Session
2020
Hørizøns
2020
Heart of the Hurricane (Black Edition)
2019
Lost in Forever (Tour Edition)
2019
Heart of the Hurricane
2018
Songs of Love and Death
2015
Singles
