Beyond This Flesh

From the land of the religiously dominant Salt Lake City, Utah comes an ultimate experience in driving, relentless metal. From behind the Zion curtain, one band sets out to prove that there is good metal here. In Salt Lake the biggest scene is Straight Edge. Hordes of angry youth look to take out there aggression by playing hard and heavy music which they call "Hard Core." In essence they play metal, but to them to be straight edge is to be rebellious, and at the same time sticking to there Mormon upbringings. Beyond This Flesh is one band that has no love for the church that rules this state, and has proven that with there attitudes and music. "By Blood Be Atoned" proved that. The song dealt with the subject of blood atonement killings carried out by Brigham Young and his avenging angels in the name of the founder Joseph Smith. The song caught some criticism from local zines. Beyond This Flesh was accused of being satanists and all around evil men for bringing up this ancient tabu subject. Yet why has this band become the top metal band in Utah? Beyond This Flesh has fast built a following not to be competed with. The crowds that come to the shows are well diversed. Tons of straight edge kids, long haired metal heads, and mohawked punk kids all share some form of unity when this band takes the stage. The show is intense. The energy of a punk or hard core show with the talent of a metal band. There isn't just a ton of open E chugga chugga riffs that fellow metalers around here like to play. Beyond This Flesh can play, and well. They all come from varied backgrounds of touring punk rock and hardcore bands, but stick to there roots of metal. You ask any kid in the punk rock scene. His first album ever purchased was a metal album. The singer Greg played guitar on Epitaph Records Total Chaos punk rock classic "Patriotic Shock" and toured extensively in support of that album. Both the drummer Justin, and the guitarist Jimmy toured extensively D.I.Y. with there old hardcore project Climb. The got alot of attention but never quite made it to the status they were looking for. Half of the band moved to California and now play in ex Buckcherry singers Josh Todd Band. Jimmy and other guitarist Dave at different times played in the band Clear who got national attention for being on "Jamie Hate Breed"s label Stillborn Records. Greg and "Spence" played together in a national punk band Endless Struggle who released an album on Charged Records and on Anti Flag singers label AF Records. All members have played with each other at one time in different bands. They are a cohesive and well fusioned bunch that puts out great music. Influences range from there love of old Iron Maiden, Slayer, Exodus, and many others including The 90's greatest metal band At The Gates. No one is a stranger to touring. They all know what is required and look forward to being on the road. The other bands around Utah don't cut it. The fashion rock icons of this so called scene can't compete. That's why when bands like Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Kataklysm, Macabre, and Suffocation come to town the promoters call one band for local support, Beyond This Flesh. Beyond This Flesh is Greg McLaughlin - vocals Jimmy Scott - guitar and vocals David Anderson - guitar Jeremy Spence - bass Justin Tuft - drums contact jimmyscottbtf@hotmail.com