Review by Adam M on May 28, 2025.

This album was revolutionary for the band as it brought their sound freshly into the world and showed them to be an innovative band within the post metal realm.  There are songs like “Watchtower” that will forever be classics of the genre and proved this band to be a contendor within the genre.  They would go on to be a bright and innovative band, but this is where it all started.

Instrumentally, the album is strong and carries with it a great deal of weight.  The guitars crush everything in their path and make for a poignant listen.  The drumming is powerful.  The vocals are distinctive and similar to what we would here in the future from this band.  All in all, this album is musically solid.

The flaw with the album lies in how it is not as innovative as some of the albums the band would craft in the future, despite showing a level of power that is commendable.  It is not quite as cutting edge as some of their other albums, but perhaps more potent.  This is also a very fresh perspective to music and something that hadn’t really been heard in the same manner before.

In conclusion, this was a very strong album that brought a great new act to the forefront.  It is full of catchy and memorable songs that will be forever ingrained in your mind.  The crushing riffs are now etched in history as great and something new to the genre.  Cult of Luna would be more interesting in the future, but never would they have as much impact.

Rating:  7.8/10

Review by Allan on July 7, 2003.

Somewhere out there, between Neurot Recordings and Hydrahead Records, there are a handful of bands that capitalize on the Neurosis'-style. Maybe not exactly, but don't try to tell me that the amazing Neurosis hasn't influenced such bands as Isis, and most recently - and to the most recognizable extent - Cult Of Luna.

Somehow, Cult Of Luna got picked up by one of metals larger labels, Earache. Good for them, I say, and good for us. Cult Of Luna might not be the most original thing, but in relative terms, they're doing a hell of a lot more about that than most bands touting around the metal scene.

"The Beyond" is Cult Of Luna's second release, and their first for Earache. Ten songs of blinding, bone rattling music. This stuff is dense and there is no doubt about that. It tends to alternate between more quiet moments, and others that pummel you into submission. That chugging bass just thumps that rhythm out like all hell is breaking loose while a wall of distorted chords are churned out, creating a storm of aggressive, uncomforting, and edgy music. Even the more quiet moments are likely to insight fear into you. Cult of Luna isn't exactly the kind of band that you're going to want to leave playing when you go to sleep at night. It's quite eerie, to be honest.

However, Cult of Luna is often torn between success and failure for exactly the same reasons. While the aforementioned elements of Cult of Luna help propel them into prosperity, it also creates somewhat of a pit. That pit is what I like to call the gaping hole of monotony. Simply put, there are times when "The Beyond" fails to engage the listener in the desired ways. It's a lengthy album, and at this point Cult of Luna have things that they haven't quite nailed yet. It's easy to get lost in "The Beyond" to the point where, along with Cult of Luna, you lose site of where you're going.

Bottom Line: "The Beyond" is definitely a record of quality. Still, it's not amazing. I predict however that Cult of Luna's greatest hour has yet to come. "The Beyond" is still certainly worth a look into.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by Adam M on May 28, 2025.

This album was revolutionary for the band as it brought their sound freshly into the world and showed them to be an innovative band within the post metal realm.  There are songs like “Watchtower” that will forever be classics of the genre and proved this band to be a contendor within the genre.  They would go on to be a bright and innovative band, but this is where it all started.

Instrumentally, the album is strong and carries with it a great deal of weight.  The guitars crush everything in their path and make for a poignant listen.  The drumming is powerful.  The vocals are distinctive and similar to what we would here in the future from this band.  All in all, this album is musically solid.

The flaw with the album lies in how it is not as innovative as some of the albums the band would craft in the future, despite showing a level of power that is commendable.  It is not quite as cutting edge as some of their other albums, but perhaps more potent.  This is also a very fresh perspective to music and something that hadn’t really been heard in the same manner before.

In conclusion, this was a very strong album that brought a great new act to the forefront.  It is full of catchy and memorable songs that will be forever ingrained in your mind.  The crushing riffs are now etched in history as great and something new to the genre.  Cult of Luna would be more interesting in the future, but never would they have as much impact.

Rating:  7.8/10

Review by Allan on July 7, 2003.

Somewhere out there, between Neurot Recordings and Hydrahead Records, there are a handful of bands that capitalize on the Neurosis'-style. Maybe not exactly, but don't try to tell me that the amazing Neurosis hasn't influenced such bands as Isis, and most recently - and to the most recognizable extent - Cult Of Luna.

Somehow, Cult Of Luna got picked up by one of metals larger labels, Earache. Good for them, I say, and good for us. Cult Of Luna might not be the most original thing, but in relative terms, they're doing a hell of a lot more about that than most bands touting around the metal scene.

"The Beyond" is Cult Of Luna's second release, and their first for Earache. Ten songs of blinding, bone rattling music. This stuff is dense and there is no doubt about that. It tends to alternate between more quiet moments, and others that pummel you into submission. That chugging bass just thumps that rhythm out like all hell is breaking loose while a wall of distorted chords are churned out, creating a storm of aggressive, uncomforting, and edgy music. Even the more quiet moments are likely to insight fear into you. Cult of Luna isn't exactly the kind of band that you're going to want to leave playing when you go to sleep at night. It's quite eerie, to be honest.

However, Cult of Luna is often torn between success and failure for exactly the same reasons. While the aforementioned elements of Cult of Luna help propel them into prosperity, it also creates somewhat of a pit. That pit is what I like to call the gaping hole of monotony. Simply put, there are times when "The Beyond" fails to engage the listener in the desired ways. It's a lengthy album, and at this point Cult of Luna have things that they haven't quite nailed yet. It's easy to get lost in "The Beyond" to the point where, along with Cult of Luna, you lose site of where you're going.

Bottom Line: "The Beyond" is definitely a record of quality. Still, it's not amazing. I predict however that Cult of Luna's greatest hour has yet to come. "The Beyond" is still certainly worth a look into.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.2 out of 10