Genre: Progressive melodic death metal
Origin: France
Released: 2011
Website: Lyr Drowning
Label: Great Dane Records
Uploaded: 11.06.11

Lyr Drowning released their debut album Blind from birth in 2007 (which apparently receive quite a good response throughout the world, but I�ve never heard of the band before), and since it�s taken them three or four years to finish the predecessor one assumes they�ve really taken their time to hone the material (at least I assume so). Described as progressive melodic death metal I fear what I�ll have to endure, reviewing Beyond the borders, seeing as I pretty much can�t stand melodic death.
As the opening track Out from your guts gets going I have to admit I was actually quite pleasantly surprised; this was not the overly melodic shite I�m used to hearing when fronted with the abomination of melodic death. Lyr Drowning has a knack for interesting drumming, and despite not being freakishly varied in any way, it�s powerful and intense. And this is a trait that continues throughout the album; really powerful drumming, remaining quite slow, which leaves the riffing to do a lot of the talking. Ok, so the riffing�s not really my cup of tea; I want my death metal brutal and gory, or old school, but never ever melodic. But once again I have to admit that these French lads do bring something interesting to the table, something worthy of attention. It�s not entirely melodic death, and there is, as mentioned earlier, a great deal of progressive flavour thrown in, bringing Opeth to mind. And to be perfectly honest that�s about as good of a comparison I�m able to make, since I�m very unfamiliar with the style in general.
The drumming�s great, the riffing�s usually pretty good, and the vocals are strong and powerful in its somewhat �easy-going� kind of way (you know, not the gruffy type of growling that I�m used to). I�m not too fond of the keyboard thrown about at occasion, like for instance the insanely annoying synthesized voice in A giant wave falls, which is otherwise a fairly bombastic song, but utterly and completely ruined by such a pitfall. They also confirm my prejudiced mind with Without any form, bringing that classic and uninteresting chugging melo-death recipe, almost bordering on core related genres, as well as the vocals near some form of rap-like patterns. But they balance these moments out with some pounding and punishing tunes, laying a very heavy foundation of melody.
I�m so not the right guy to judge, but since I�ve received a promo of the album I suppose I still have to. Beyond the borders goes up the wrong alley, so to speak, but I do admire their conviction and general power throughout the album, and someone into this type of melodic death should really go ape-shit, seeing as it�s definitely one of the most interesting releases of the style I�ve heard.

Tracklist:
01. Out from your guts
02. The inescapable weight of gravity
03. Once it's gone
04. Without any form
05. To faraway coasts
06. Slack tide
07. A giant wave falls
08. Mad crowds
09. Heart/body
10. Oceanic (time travel)
11. Beyond the borders
12. 57�24' north-6�11' west
13. Devouring this world