Album Review

Score 8.6
Written by Alex de Moller
Published on 4/2/2004
If words could take revenge on their makers...

I'd be a writhing mass of blood, saliva and utter shame this very moment.... for I can still remember the day last year when I threw a Terrorizer compilation into the dankest corner of my chamber with a poisonous half smile emblazoned on my face. I did not choose to understand the enigma that is Mithras that day, and laughed in unison with the rest of the brutish horde of UK metalheads, choking with idiocy and intolerance.

All I can say now is that the joke's on us. Overlooked in a climate of fifth rate death metal bands and metal poverty, Mithras have had a hard climb, and now that they've reached the summit, it's time to fly the fuckin flag.

Worlds Beyond the Veil is nothing more than complete metal mastery. That's right, THE best album I've heard this year and I'm proud to have these bastards as my countrymen. Take a bit of epic metal, add some melody, a drop of throat cancer, some fantastic musicianship and perhaps an M-60 for a double kicker and you've got Mithras, a moody, trance-inducing whirlwind of a band... and they're here for blood.

Now lets get one thing straight. This band is not one I'd like to compare to many others, but for the purposes of journalism, it's a sin I'll have to commit. The words 'Morbid Angel' come to mind on more than one occasion, particularly on the title track "Worlds Beyond the Veil" and others like "The Caller and the Listener". There are elements of serious brutality here, however I fear this album is just a bit too much for the average camo-clad death metaller (particularly of the British variety), who would merely resort to the only actions they are capable of, grunting and dismissing.

A theme of diversity and strength is almost blatant on ‘Worlds’, sinister but tranquil instrumentals (“Break the World’s Divide” and the lengthy intro, “Portal to The...”), sonic assaults in the breed of “Voices In The Void” of and perhaps most of all, breathtaking musicianship (See “Psyrens” or indeed ANY other track).

This album is so good it should be banned. However not one of the most accessible works ever, sorry folks but it's gonna take more than a mere listen to see the greatness of this one.

All that said... I'm sure the Bull God would be proud.



sauron's Avatar
sauron | posted on 3/2008 | Reply
It's pretty funny that the reviewer went from disliking to enjoying and now to playing for this band.
Unknown Metalhead
Death Comes Ripping | posted on 10/2007 | Reply
Just got this album and listened to it...fffaarrrkk what an amazing album..and no doubt it will improve with repeated listens.
Unknown Metalhead
c | posted on 10/2005 | Reply
IF morbid angel were frozen in the year 1995, and reawakened in 2345, they would sound excactly like this, barring the production. I mean WOW!
Unknown Metalhead
c | posted on 10/2005 | Reply
Holy shit.
Unknown Metalhead
Speci | posted on 5/2005 | Reply
Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! How I missed out on this I don't know. It took one listen to Psyrens after ignoring this band for so long, and now I'm hooked. Arrghh! Needs better production, though.
Unknown Metalhead
late again | posted on 11/2004 | Reply
I agree with one keen observer (or reviewer) too much spacey shit that is insipid and boring. Also when will these guys get the picture with the production? I don't know if it is intentionally done this way but to my ears these guys need to hire someone to do it better. Those two points withstanding-a decent platter of bru/tech metal.
Unknown Metalhead
Prometheus | posted on 9/2004 | Reply
The lyrics/concept of this album are fabulous, I read them along with the music and it plain creeped me out. Awesome, awesome album
Unknown Metalhead
forever in filth | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
This sounds exactly like old Morbid Angel.
Unknown Metalhead
Yang | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
Hmmm Just curious. THanks for the info though Alex
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ALEX de MUSTAINE | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
LOL. Man take a look at my first minion opinion. You'll laugh. My writing has developed alot. I'm 19. Gayass is a dad, and has quite a lot more experience and wisdom than I do. It all depends here. Some people get picked up through the minions... Others are handpicked by Ty and Matt. IMO - Drew is a fairly good writer and all these people giving him shit is not an excellent way to welcome him. Whether he's been here for 2 years or 1 day... The guys at the top know what theyre doing, so I trust their judgement.
Unknown Metalhead
Yang | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
You know thats kinda funny Alex, because from what I noticed under the minion opinion archive, you have been here a long time yes, but this Drewcifer person has only been writing minion opinions starting from this year. And from what i read, he sucks. How did that happen? Also noticed Gayass whoever only had two or three minion opinions then he was on the team. How does THAT work?
Unknown Metalhead
ALEX deMUSTAINE | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
Whore yourself out for a year and a half writing reviews for albums no-one gives a fuck about anymore :D
Unknown Metalhead
Yang | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
How do you get a job at this site?
Unknown Metalhead
barry d | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
id say compared to the fizzy guitars and cardboard box drums and inaudible vox sound of the new morbid angel, this is amazingly well produced
lee's Avatar
lee | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
Terrorizer gave it a 10 I think, only other album I have ever seen with that is Painkiller and a few others. Nice review man.
Matt's Avatar
Matt  | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
Yeah, I Know. I've been following Mithras for years now. I'm just saying that if they had a really great production job so the drums dont sound so shit and the solo's dont sound so irritating after 14 songs of tapping.
Unknown Metalhead
ALEX de MUSTAINE | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
This is pretty much a self made album... likely Leon and the boys recorded it at the place where he works as a sound engineer and producer... www.dreamingstudios.co.uk
Matt's Avatar
Matt  | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
If they recorded this in a better studio then I'm sure my head would have been blow off my shoulders back on xmas day when I first heard this, but alas, the production is pretty crap... Still, "Psyrens" is so fuckin awesome!
Unknown Metalhead
forever in filth | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
Excellent review man and I'm so happy to see your first review!