Beyond the Black

Last updated
Beyond the Black
Beyond the Black Arena Leipzig 2023 48.jpg
Beyond the Black performing at Arena Leipzig in 2023
Background information
Origin Mannheim, Germany
Genres Symphonic metal
Years active2014 (2014)–present
LabelsAirforce1 Records, [1] Napalm Records, Nuclear Blast [2]
Members
Past members
  • Stefan Herkenhoff
  • Nils Lesser
  • Christopher Hummels
  • Tobias Derer
  • Erwin Schmidt
  • Michael Hauser
  • Jonas Roßner
Website beyond-the-black.com

Beyond the Black is a German symphonic metal band formed in 2014 in Mannheim. [3] [4] Their debut album Songs of Love and Death became popular immediately after the release, and entered the German and Austrian national music charts. [5]

Contents

History

2014–2016: Beginnings, Songs of Love and Death, and Lost in Forever

Beyond the Black performing at Wacken Open Air in 2016. Beyond The Black - Wacken Open Air 2016-AL2050.jpg
Beyond the Black performing at Wacken Open Air in 2016.

The band was formed in 2014 in Mannheim, Germany by Jennifer Haben (vocalist, ex-Saphir). After finishing the production of Beyond the Black's first album together with her producers, Haben engaged Nils Lesser (lead guitar), Christopher Hummels (rhythm guitar/backing vocals), Michael Hauser (keyboards), Erwin Schmidt (bass) and Tobias Derer (drums) as live musicians. They made their first appearances at the Wacken Open Air 2014 festival and on tour supporting Saxon and Hell. [6] [7]

On 13 February 2015, Beyond the Black released their debut full-length album Songs of Love and Death , which reached the 12th place in the German music charts [8] and 21st place in the Austrian charts. [5] [9] The album was produced by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia) and received mostly positive reviews from critics. [10] [11] A week later, on February 20, the band appeared on the German Sat.1 Breakfast television with the song "In the Shadows". [12]

From 13 May 2015, the band embarked on its first tour through Germany, including an appearance at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen on May 23, 2015 [13] and several more festivals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Beyond the Black's second album, titled Lost in Forever , was released on the 12 February 2016 and features 13 tracks. The deluxe edition features 9 live songs (including an unreleased cover), an interview and an interactive menu.

On 15 July 2016, the band announced that Jennifer Haben and her musicians were parting ways. Haben continued the band with new members. [14] The new band line-up (Kai Tschierschky (drums), Tobi Lodes (rhythm guitar), Chris Hermsdörfer (lead guitar), Stefan Herkenhoff (bass) and Jonas Roßner (keyboards)) was announced in November 2016 and organized as a permanent-member band from this time on.

2017–present: Albums with new lineup

Beyond the Black live at Rock am Ring 2019 Beyond the Black - Rock am Ring 2019-1314.jpg
Beyond the Black live at Rock am Ring 2019

On 13 January 2017, the band's second album Lost In Forever was released as a Tour Edition with additional song material. Beyond the Black started touring internationally then with shows in the UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Japan. In 2017, the band also toured as a support act for Aerosmith and Scorpions.

In spring 2018, keyboardist Jonas Roßner left Beyond the Black for private reasons. On 31 August 2018, their third album Heart of the Hurricane was released, followed by an extensive European tour as support for the Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation till the end of the year.

In 2019, the band released a Black Edition of their album Heart of the Hurricane with three new songs and went on a European headline tour, which has mainly sold out.

On 19 June 2020, Beyond the Black released their fourth album Hørizøns, reaching the bands highest chart positions to date. In the course of the release, the band announced a European co-headline tour together with the Swedish/Danish metal band Amaranthe.

In July 2022, they took part in the 4 days rock fest "Midalidare - Rock in the Wine Valley", [15] [16] on the evening of Within Temptation.

On 9 September 2022, Amaranthe released an alternate single version (including a lyric video) of their song "Make It Better", with Haben as a guest singer. The band released their self-titled fifth album on 13 January 2023. This was followed by their sixth album, Break the Silence , released on 9 January 2026. [17]

Band members

Current

Live

Former

Timeline

Beyond the Black

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
GER
[8] 		AUT
[9] 		BEL
[18] 		SWI
[19]
Songs of Love and Death
  • Release: 13 February 2015 [20]
  • Label: Airforce1
  • Formats: CD, digital download
1221—51
Lost in Forever
  • Release: 12 February 2016 [21]
  • Label: Airforce1 Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
421—28
Heart of the Hurricane
  • Release: 31 August 2018
  • Label: Napalm Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
528—14
Hørizøns
  • Released: 19 June 2020
  • Label: Napalm Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
316536
Beyond the Black
  • Released: 13 January 2023
  • Label: Nuclear Blast
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
2141016
Break the Silence
  • Released: 9 January 2026
  • Label: Nuclear Blast
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
241258

EPs

YearTitle
2020W:O:A Acoustic Clash: The Lockdown Session

References

  1. ↑ "Beyond The Black". Airforce1.tv. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Beyond The Black". Nuclearblast.com. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Official biography". Universal Music Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Beyond the Black". ALLMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Beyond The Black - Songs Of Love And Death". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Beyond The Black support Saxon & Hell on UK tour dates". Wacken.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hören sie "Beyond the Black" im stream: Liefern sie das metal-debüt des jahres?". Bild (in German). 14 February 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Discographie von Beyond the Black". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Österreichische Hitparaden und Musik Portal". austriancharts.at (in German). Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Beyond The Black - Songs of Love and Death". Metal Hammer (in German). 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Jlegg (8 March 2015). "Beyond The Black – Songs Of Love And Death review". Metal-Temple.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Kessler, Sebastian (20 February 2015). "Metal-Newcomer Beyond The Black im Sat.1 Frühstücksfernsehen: Video vom TV-Auftritt". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Wave Gotik Treffen 2015 Bericht und Fotos". NecroWeb - Musikmagazin (in German). 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Beyond The Black is looking for new musicians". 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Midalidare rock 2022: BEYOND THE BLACK AT MIDALIDARE ROCK IN THE WINE VALLEY". midalidarerock.bg.
  16. ↑ "BEYOND THE BLACK at Midalidare Rock 2022".
  17. ↑ "Beyond the Black Announces New Album Break the Silence, Shares Title Track". Blabbermouth.net . July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Beyond the Black – Beyond the Black" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "Discographie Beyond the Black". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Encyclopaedia Metallum - Songs of Love and Death - Beyond the Black". Encyclopaedia Metallum . Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  21. ↑ "Lost In Forever (Limited Deluxe Fanbox) CD+DVD, Limited Edition". Amazon.com . Retrieved 22 February 2016.
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