"Beyond Ratio" is the debut full-length album of Russian band Swampborn. Combining assertive (post) black metal with a powerful and solid, at times almost death metal sound, its music comes as a massive flow of energy, consisting of a flurry of drums, multi-layered guitar canvases, piercing melodies and expressive vocals, rusty and ominous like an apocalyptic sermon.
While at the core the band's music is based on modern black metal, it uses many unexpected infusions, embodied through the use of additional instruments, such as keyboards, synths, brass, violin and cello, and even accordion. Being a concept work, "Beyond Ratio" is full of various mood changes and unconventional moves, such as post-industrial backgrounds and atmospheric breakdowns, which don't sound like from deathcore or modern metal, but rather like parts of twisted obscure metal structures.
The visual design of this release is also conceptional, filled with metaphysical hints and allusions. Illustrations for each track reflect and deepen their themes, while the cover and inner art reveal reflections on everyday and beyond, transient and eternal, passed through the prisms of micro- and macrocosm. Enigmatic titles of songs unfold the lyrical themes of "Beyond Ratio" - existential horror, decay of urban life and metaphysical death of the soul.
Endowed with all the features described above, Swampborn's music is able to penetrate into the most hidden depths of the human soul, exposing its bleeding wounds and cleansing it in the merciless flame of the Absolute.
** All pictures are digital mock up representations of the final vinyl. The end result may vary. Due to the unpredictability of vinyl color mixing, refunds and exchanges due to these variations are not possible.