Beyond the Black

Beyond the Black is a German symphonic metal group from Mannheim, active since 2014. The band is led by vocalist Jennifer Haben, formerly of Saphir. Its line-up has included Tobias Derer, Michael Hauser, Christopher Hummels, Nils Lesser, Erwin Schmidt, Jonas Roßner, Stefan Herkenhoff, Tobias Lodes, Kai Tschierschky and Chris Hermsdörfer.

Formation and early releases

The project begins in 2014, when Haben assembles live musicians after finishing work on the debut album. That first live line-up includes Nils Lesser on lead guitar, Christopher Hummels on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Michael Hauser on keyboards, Erwin Schmidt on bass, and Tobias Derer on drums. Beyond the Black makes its live debut at Wacken Open Air in 2014 and also appears as a support act for Saxon and Hell.

Its debut album, Songs of Love and Death, is released in 2015. It enters the German and Austrian charts, reaching number 12 in Germany and number 21 in Austria. The album is produced by Sascha Paeth and receives generally positive critical reception. After its release, the band promotes it with television appearances and a German tour that includes festivals such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen.

Developing line-ups and later albums

The second album, Lost in Forever, follows in 2016. A deluxe edition adds live recordings, a cover version and other bonus material. Later in 2016, Haben and the then-musicians part ways, and the project continues with a new permanent line-up announced in November. That line-up includes Kai Tschierschky on drums, Tobi Lodes on rhythm guitar, Chris Hermsdörfer on lead guitar, Stefan Herkenhoff on bass and Jonas Roßner on keyboards. From this point, Beyond the Black functions as a stable band rather than a solo-led project with session players.

In 2017, Lost in Forever is reissued as a tour edition with extra material. The band tours internationally in countries including the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Japan, and it supports Aerosmith and Scorpions on tour.

The third album, Heart of the Hurricane, is released in 2018, followed by a European tour supporting Within Temptation. In 2019, a revised edition, Heart of the Hurricane (Black Edition), appears with additional songs, and the band also completes a European headlining tour.

Recent activity

The fourth studio album, Hørizøns, is released in 2020 and becomes the band’s highest-charting album to date. After that release, Beyond the Black announces a co-headline tour with Amaranthe. In 2022, the band performs at Midalidare Rock Festival in Bulgaria, and Haben appears as a guest vocalist on an alternate version of Amaranthe’s “Make It Better”.

The fifth album, Beyond the Black, is released in 2023, followed by the sixth studio album, Break the Silence, in 2026.