Beyond Recognition is the third full length album, and final until 2009's The Prophecy by thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 band Defiance

Defiance (band)

Defiance is a thrash metal band from Oakland, California. While virtually unknown to mainstream metal and rock circles, Defiance is known as one of the classic second-tier thrash bands to come from the Bay Area thrash metal scene...

, released in 1992 on Roadrunner Records

Roadrunner Records

Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...

. This album was a bit of a departure from the bands previous work. It can be best described as "progressive thrash metal", featuring more complex song structures, odd time signatures, numerous key and tempo changes, technical riffs and drumming, and even clean sections that often evoked jazz fusion

Jazz fusion

Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...

. This newer, more distinctive style earned the band their biggest critical success to date, and many fans hail it as their finest work.

Despite this, the album did not sell as well as their previous works due to a shifting musical landscape and as a result, poor advertisement for the album. It has been out of print for many years, though many thrash fans consider it to be a lost gem of the genre.

During the recording of Beyond Recognition vocalist Steev Esquivel

Steev Esquivel

Steev Esquivel is a Mexican-American heavy metal vocalist and bassist. He is best known for his work in the metal band Skinlab. He also has sung for the bands Laughing Dead , Defiance , and Xzanthus. He was a member of the thrash metal band, Exodus for a brief period...

 temporarily left the band due to lack of focus due to drug addiction. He came back later when the band was not satisfied with their replacement vocalist. All of the tracks on the album still had Esquivel on lead vocals.

Former Heathen

Heathen (band)

Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...

 vocalist Dave White

David White (heavy metal vocalist)

David R White is an American heavy metal lead vocalist who is best known for singing in the thrash metal band Heathen. Having stints in underground thrash bands Blind Illusion and Laughing Dead, he joined Heathen in 1985...

 makes a guest appearance on "Looking Inside Out", doing a vocal harmony with Esquivel during the chorus line. Ed Repka

Ed Repka

Edward J. Repka is an American artist best known for creating album covers for heavy metal music bands as well as shirt designs, including those featuring Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead. Repka's portfolio also includes Dark Angel's logo and model designs for the Hellraiser films...

 also did the cover art.

Track listing

1. Killing Floor (03:45)
2. Step Back (05:01)
3. Perfect Nothing (05:38)
4. No Compromise (04:14)
5. Dead Silence (04:10)
6. Inside Looking Out (05:19)
7. The Chosen (04:16)
8. Powertrip (04:22)
9. Promised Afterlife (4:50)

Lineup

• Steev Esquivel
  Steev Esquivel
  Steev Esquivel is a Mexican-American heavy metal vocalist and bassist. He is best known for his work in the metal band Skinlab. He also has sung for the bands Laughing Dead , Defiance , and Xzanthus. He was a member of the thrash metal band, Exodus for a brief period...
  
   - Lead vocals
• Doug Harrington
  Doug Harrington
  Doug Harrington was an American heavy metal guitarist. He was best known for being one of the lead guitarists for the thrash metal band Defiance throughout their entire recording career...
  
   - Lead/Rhythm Guitars
• Jim Adams
  Jim Adams
  Jim Adams born is an American heavy metal guitarist. His is best known for being lead guitarist for thrash metal band Defiance. Joining the band in 1986, Adams quickly became an integral member of the band, co-writing much of their material and playing on all three of their LP's, Product of...
  
   - Lead/Rhythm Guitars
• Mike Kaufmann
  Mike Kaufmann
  Mike Kaufmann is an American heavy metal bass guitarist. He is best known as the bass player for the thrash metal band Defiance...
  
   - Bass
• Matt Vander Ende
  Matt Vander Ende
  Matt Vander Ende is an American drummer and percussionist from Oakland, California. A graduate from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he was the original drummer for the thrash metal band Defiance...
  
   - Drums
• Dave White
  David White (heavy metal vocalist)
  David R White is an American heavy metal lead vocalist who is best known for singing in the thrash metal band Heathen. Having stints in underground thrash bands Blind Illusion and Laughing Dead, he joined Heathen in 1985...
  
  - Backing vocals on "Inside Looking Out"