Past the shadows

Work on the album began back in 2011. In the summer of 2012, Johnyboy signs a contract with the Creative Management Agency of the “Supermarket of Culture” (subsequently changing its name to “Invisible Management”). March 16, 2012 released a joint track with the singer Ksenia "Methamphetamir", which was the first single from the upcoming album. October 1 released a clip on him. ^[one]

On October 17, the premiere of the second single from the upcoming album “Alien” took place. ^[2] On November 16, the video “Starfall of the Century” was released, which became an intro to the upcoming album. The name of the album “Past the Shadows” also became known. ^[3] The album premiered on December 6, 2012. ^[four]

Denis Vasilenko himself responded about the album as follows:

The last year has significantly changed me and my attitude to the world. This album is completely different from previous releases, for me it is a big step forward. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped me throughout the year not to quit music and achieve what is already there. The struggle with oneself, the transition to adulthood, the desire to finally crawl to the surface and breathe in clean air, flying over the walls that arise in this difficult task - this is the main theme of the album. Past the standards, past the format, past the shadows. Have a nice listening.

On April 2, 2013, a video was released for the track "When We Take Off." ^[five]

• Methamphetamir (feat. Ksenia)
• Alien
• Starfall of the Century

Joni knows how to juggle complex rhymes, comparisons and metaphors, but he does it simply in industrial quantities. Almost every song is crammed with all of the above, like the most disgusting psycho-bodybuilder with steroids ... When something like this happens with a western artist, music critics shrug and write - "second album syndrome." It seems to the point. And, unlike the debut “Cold” on “Past the Shadows”, not all songs had successful refrains. Yes, at the end of the album we are waiting for the manic "So Many Words", excellent in its cruel naivety, "A Bath Full of Ice" and the final "When We Take Off." But in these songs we hear about the same as in the previous part of the tracklist, albeit a little from a different angle.

- Valentin Kogan, InDaRnb.Ru

“I saw a lot of Slim, but not a single Shady,” “Why Denis Pencil, give me Hope Pen”, “You, like Jenna Jameson, indulge in solid” - also quite Eminem rhetorical figures. And beats to match: resilient, sweeping, varnished, sometimes near-dabstep, sometimes more traditional, with a piano.

- Nikolai Redkin, Rap.Ru

• Past the shadows on the Discogs website
• Nikolai Redkin. Johnyboy “Past the Shadows” Rap.ru (December 18, 2012)
• Valentine Kogan. Johnyboy “Past the Shadows” InDaRnB.ru (January 31, 2013)