Previously impressed with the diverse approach to power/progressive metal along melodic death and atmospheric nuances on their last album AQVA, Beriedir returns ready to continue that great cross-section of influences in this third full-length Liminal Spaces. Exploring various forms of trauma to be understood as a human, the lyrical content tackles melancholia, nostalgia, longing, and seclusion – where we seek ways to handle weird dreams and experiences so they don’t cause us to relapse into the same old sorrows. Heady stuff that mirrors the alternative, power, melodic death, and progressive metal music that pulls from a wide array of North American / European influences to keep the tracks potent, propulsive, and on the edge of your seat as to what comes next.
Virtuosity appears in segmentation – the quintet choosing to emphasize a deeper dive into the needs or atmosphere of each track, leading to quite memorable shifts in dynamics. Swirling, bombastic keyboard sequences from Stefano Nusperli lead the charge on “F.I.V.E.”, supported by these driving power chords as well as a mixture of alternative, clean melodies plus aggressive, passionate screams when necessary to punctuate key phrases. Opener “Halo” emphasizes more of the band’s European melodic death and power angles, the tradeoff clean/extreme vocals tantalizing next to a steady mid-tempo groove as guitarists Simone Bacchi Mottin and Francesco Ideo fill the aural landscape in bouncy light to heavy textures. Everything from Sonata Arctica and Leprous to Dark Tranquillity and Trivium are obvious acts that influence the band’s approach to songwriting, style, and execution – leading to tracks such as “Burnout” and “In the Corner of My Eyes” that can be very introspective yet turn into a heavier, crushing sonic force for an arrangement very quickly, all in the course of compact songwriting that never reaches beyond five and a half minutes.
The flow of the album aids the long-term appeal – listeners will be able to retain all the smaller aspects through successive playbacks, which could in turn integrate the themes even deeper into one’s soul. What seems simple can be slightly complex, through jagged time signature juggling against a fusion of thoughtful bass, keyboard, and guitar passages – making “Anemoia” a current favorite. Stefano’s trained multi-octave vocal register intriguing in its slithering verse to magnum chorus delivery – the death screams providing additional tension-filled earworms to send chills in all the right places.
Choosing to emphasize more of a progressive meets alt/pop side to their sound keeps their sound fresh for a modern audience who are clamoring for something unique in the scene. Liminal Spaces should elevate the profile of Beriedir even higher – especially for those who want carefully crafted material that doesn’t go too excessively overboard on the ‘showoff’ mechanics that can happen in this genre.