BEYOND THE BLACK

Formed a decade ago, the German symphonic metal group Beyond the Black, led by vocalist Jennifer Haben, quickly became accustomed to touring and performing at major festivals worldwide while promoting albums like Songs of Love and Death (2015) and Lost in Forever (2016). In their early years, the band shared the stage with acts like Scorpions, Saxon, Epica, and Powerwolf, as well as at the traditional Loud Park festival in Japan.

The release of Heart of the Hurricane (2018) was surrounded by high expectations, as Jennifer Haben was the sole remaining member from the original lineup. However, the new team delivered, not only continuing Beyond the Black’s evolution but also daring to experiment with Hørizøns (2020). The creative process behind Hørizøns began in an unexpected way, as Jennifer shared with Roadie Crew magazine: “We started with a song that sounded completely different from anything we’d done before.” This unique track, “Misery,” was inspired by Disney, a collaboration between Jennifer and guitarist Chris Hermsdörfer. “We love Disney and thought we’d do something like that just for fun,” said the vocalist.

The decision to explore such a different musical territory was strategic. “We knew it was something completely different, but it was necessary to free our minds from everything we’d already done. We felt like we were in a bubble that we needed to burst,” Jennifer explained, highlighting the importance of breaking free from expectations to evolve artistically.

Now, Jennifer Haben (vocals), Chris Hermsdörfer and Tobi Lodes (guitars), Linus Klausenitzer (bass), and Kai Tschierschky (drums) are promoting their latest album, Beyond the Black (2023). Jennifer elaborated on the reasons behind the album’s title, explaining that it reflects the experiences that have shaped the band over the years. “All of these experiences transformed us into the band we are today. We’ve changed, but we’re still the same people, perhaps just more focused and more aware of what we truly want musically,” she reflected. “It felt like the right time to make a statement with an album that’s essentially just our name. I think it has a little bit of everything—German symphonic metal, references to North American pop, some new wave… We love playing around with that mix because it’s what we grew up with; it’s who we are. So, it only makes sense that it would show up in an album that carries the band’s name,” Jennifer concluded.