Another new metal symphonic band has been located, within a famous city in Belgium. Ghent, is the home of the famous city where the War of 1812 peace treaty was signed. Not only did the treaty bring peace between the UK and the USA, it was one of the first treaties to try to put an end to the international slave trade.
It is with this heralding opening, that I present the new band, World’s Beyond, who released their debut album, Rhapsody of Life, on January 31st of this year as an independent work of art.
World’s Beyond is made up of: Vocalist and lyricist: Valerie De Kempe; Lead guitarist, lyricist and songwriter: Tijmen Matthys; Violinist: Jakob Declercq; Keyboardist: Robbe Adriaens; Bassist: Ewoud Dekoninck; and Drummer: Wout Debacker.
The band describes Rhapsody of Life, as “A concept album celebrating human existence. Every song narrates a particular experience that’s part of our collective lives. They culminate in the title track, which poses the ultimate question”.
The album opens with orchestration and powerful bass on “Familiar Skies”. Electric lead guitar and that cutting violin, sow the seeds of an auspicious start for this new band and epic concept album. Valerie De Kempe, sings the opening verses, “It’s been so long ago. Colors faded all around. Until once upon a time, a thought comes trembling back to you. Oh how fast the form breaks through. When the old thoughts come crashing into your mind. You’re riding the waves, a path you knew before. It’s good to be back again, familiar skies. It’s good to be here!” Indeed! She has a beautiful voice, and that high pitched soprano vocal will play an important part, throughout this lyric and vocal driven album. This song is full of that wonderful cinematic orchestration, along with great guitar and that signature violin. Valerie De Kempe, sings, “You’re riding the waves, the path keeps going on. It’s good to be back again, moving on. It’s good to be free!” Off to a great start.
“Unwind Our Story”, is another solid performance by Valerie De Kempe. However, I am now lowering the level of the soundscape volume to appreciate and enjoy the wonderful guitar solos and keyboard breaks. This track opens with an excellent electric guitar solo, made even more powerful with thundering drumming. Valerie De Kempe sings, at first, in a soft warm nature, “I recall a pathway. Swaying the queries of our lives. Growing grounds for visions and awareness. Making my way and so did you. Roads merged, taking it slow. A trip, promising and shaping it together. Restore! My journey in the light. Unwind my story once again!” A choir joins her to help expand the sound. That soprano lift is wonderful, but the pounding drums and electric guitars surrounding her add magic! Then she sings the golden lines, “Side by side, we’re roaming freely. We inspire closely, screaming liberty”.
One of the best songs on the album is “Sleepless Dreams”. It opens with beautiful piano keys and orchestration. Then Valerie De Kempe gently sings, “We’re here in the dark. Sleeping the sleepless dream. Secure, peaceful, endless. It goes on, all unaware. A candle is lit. A choice was made. I’m drawn to the light. As it flickers and fights. Against the dark”. Her voice is so sharp and perfect, it could pierce glass, but it is well refined and epic here. The electric guitar accompanying her cannot keep up to her volume. The best part is when Valerie sings, “Let us slide into night. The night of the dreamless sleep”, set to soft piano keys.
“Breaking Free”, opens with quieting orchestration, before Valerie sings, “Stuck inside. My soul tied. Silence, my song. There I belong. Tell me what to say. Use my voice in another way”. She continues with a more lower sounding vocal, “My soul is caged inside. I dream of lives I could’ve lived. Trying to be invisible, locked away. And then break my own heart. I will fly. Claim the sky. Within each and every breath. Finally alive. My soul above. Feet on the ground. Can you taste my energy? Breaking free!” A very uplifting song indeed.
“The Calling”, is another of the best songs on this album. It opens with slow violin and piano. Then Valerie sings, “Here I stand with the urge to create. To fill the void of night. Here I yearn for dreams to emerge. New light, shining bright. Then the feeling grows and shows. That nothing is out of reach!” All orchestration, and the choir joins in. Then Valerie sings the band’s name, “I see the worlds beyond reality unfold. They shine, they shine, shine, shine. It’s the calling of the end of the night!” The guitar solos and drumming are as clear and professionally well delivered. There is great production value throughout this masterpiece.
“Beyond Reality”, opens with soft, slow piano and violin. Then Valerie sings, “Beyond reality, in places we all know. Senses missing, all thoughts white as snow. At this point you can only look back. Future ceases along with time”, all set to drum thumps, that are well-spaced. Then Valerie sings, “When you lay down the light in your heart. And see the path you leave behind. Did you fly, did you make it count. Did you live a life you want?” A great question, we should all be asking ourselves every day, throughout our lives. The musicianship in-between stanzas is world class. This band is ready for prime time and has well-rehearsed this epic album.
“The Spark”, again opens with soft piano and violin. Valerie sings, “Deep inside, there’s a place. Being built, so gently. Stir the flow, make it grow. Until you surf the crest one day”, set to pounding drums. Then, a wonderful violin solo with accompanying choir. Valerie sings, “Travel into others’ minds. It overflows, my heart and head. Taking in the atmosphere. And wandering around their essence. Dance! Your way through the day. Become what you love most! Start acting on the urge!” Wonderful advice for us all. Valerie sings, “I want to control these tides. And build this room of love inside. I feel alive just watching you!” Then, a soft symphony of piano and violin breaks like waves. Valerie sings, “But where should I begin this journey? Do! What’s meant to be. This mindset‘s here to stay. Sing! The lyrics of your heart. Connect realities. Become what you love most. And let that be enough!” Amen!
“Enchantment”, opens with Valerie singing, “Drift away to the forest of our souls. Try to take it in. For too long it was dark underneath. This crown of leaves. The sun was left to be ignored. No recollection of the light. But now moving with the early bright. Something would bloom, was fast asleep. And now a breeze, dances its way. Into your blossoming heart”. It is one her best vocal performances on the album. She sings, “You entered these grounds. And captivated every pulse, unwittingly. You embody my every thought, every mood. No part of you is meant to be unheard”.
Soft strings and violin open “The Moment”, brilliantly. Then, it turns into a brilliant electric guitar solo. Valerie sings, “Can you see the sun. So bright and bold. It is right there. Reflections on the palm. Time is flowing, we’re here. Live the moment, hold it dear. And see yourself. Inside the mirror, thoughts run deep. So let them whisper, don’t speak. Cause we are right here, right now!”
“One with the Stars”, opens with some of the best piano playing on the album. Then Valerie sings, in unison with violin, “You showed me once. A piece of life in the morning wind. You shared a view, small but true. I learned to see. Hues I never thought could be. Beheld the love, shown to me. But one day you reach. The top of a mountain, the edge of a sea. Forks in our pathway, one way to be. On ending a story you realize. That everything dies. Sometimes a change has you fold your wings. Yet flying onwards will bring you to spring. Keep changing seasons till one day you too will be. One with the stars!” Some of the best lyrics I’ve heard this year. They build the positive feelings of this album, as the band moves towards the epic closer.
“Rhapsody of Life”, opens with narration, from Mike Davison. He states the famous words of Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage. And all the people merely players”. Then, some haunting “Tubular Bells” – like piano joins in. Mike continues, “They have their exits and their entrances. And one in their time plays many parts. Their acts being seven ages”. Violin and electric guitar seem to shadow and follow each other, until the soundscape suddenly stops, as Valerie sings, to soft keyboards and violin, “In sleepless dreams we lie abiding. Unaware of light. Until a candle shines inviting. Life gives you a heart. Overflowing in a song. Sing reality. Wandering through minds. Watching to see. We wonder why it all is”. Then, several spoken word phrases, set to different languages. Valerie returns, “Familiar skies are where your friends are shining new light. Blossoming hearts are like embraces. They soothe beyond dreams. Emerging as a voice. Calling in my mind. To build stars before. Thoughts turn white. We wonder what it all means”. This epic song ends with some powerful words of inspiration and wisdom, from Valerie, “Stand. Gaze. Love. Make. Share. Be. Know. Feel. Live!”
World’s Beyond’s Rhapsody of Life, is not the “Bohemian Rhapsody”, I had hoped for; after immediately viewing the album title, and before hearing the music. However, it is one of the best and most well produced albums of 2025. This band has put a lot of effort and practice into getting it right, from the beginning; on this, their debut album. Few bands can say as much for the time and preparation put in to making a great first impression, upon introduction. I can say unequivocally that this is an album full of good music and more importantly, great, inspirational lyrics, which all of us need, in these dark times globally. Cherish this debut and wait for the next album, which will hopefully expand on this salient effort, put forward, to launch a band. Thank you World’s Beyond, for your care and the dignity of this music. But mostly for the inspirational lyrics held within this Rhapsody of Life, masterpiece.
Album Track List:
- Familiar Skies – 3:59
- Unwind Our Story – 3:12
- Sleepless Dreams – 4:23
- Breaking Free – 3:43
- The Calling – 4:16
- Beyond Reality – 5:06
- The Spark – 3:03
- Enchantment – 5:30
- The Moment – 5:34
- One With the Stars – 4:43
- Rhapsody of Life – 10:19
Songwriter: Tijmen Matthys
Lyricists: Valerie De Kempe, Tijmen Matthys
Producer: Tijmen Matthys
Mixing Engineer: Ace Zec
Mastering Engineer: Frederik Dejongh
Album Art Designer: Elise Tack
Session Violinist: Amelie Verhelle
Recording Engineer (lead vocals & drum): Arjan Bogaert
Recording Engineer (other instruments): Tijmen Matthys
Voice Artist (intro poem Rhapsody of Life): Mike Davison
Voice Artists (other quotes Rhapsody of Life): Jason Cho (English), Luce-Andréa Steurs (French), Pablo Mata Gámez (Spanish), Giuliana Barbaro (Italian), Karin Vanpoucke (Dutch), Kalliopi Armoutaki (Greek), Pyush Chamoli (Hindi), Steve Chi-Wei Shan, Xin Wang (Chinese), Dmitrii Trofimov (Russian), Arijit Karmakar (Bengali), Leandro da Silva (Portuguese), Aaryan Raman Lalith (Malayalam), Pardise Zardosht (Persian), and two other kind souls who wish to remain anonymous.
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://www.worldsbeyond.be/
https://www.facebook.com/worldsbeyondofficial
Buy Rhapsody of Life.