Eternity’s End
The Fire Within
Power Prog
2016
I must start by saying that although I’m not the biggest extreme metal fan, I was really impressed by the degree of musicianship of the band Obscura whose former guitarist, is the main guy behind Eternity’s End. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, this might or might not be the band that allegedly Muenzner and Kelly Sundown announced a couple of years ago, only to never see materialize with the “then” lineup.
Anyhow, utilizing current Obscura bassist, Linus Klausenitzer and their former band and alumnus, Hannes Grossmann on drums and with Ian Parry (ex-Elegy, ex-Crystal Tears) on vocals, this sounds like a weird mix between well, Obscura (sans the harsh vocals and going for a different style) and ehm, because of how Parry sounds, some mid-period Yngwie Malmsteen, with the drumming annoyingly being on top of everything and super prominent in the mix. It takes a bit of getting used to, I will admit, but you can’t help but be impressed by the performances sheer virtuosity.
I am a little uncertain, about the appeal of this, as old schoolers are unlikely to be hooked, although they might, but even harder than that would probably be to get extreme metal fans to follow this. Progsters might be floored, if they can be bothered to look beside the latest 10-hour Dream Theater masterpiece, for long enough…
The production suffers a bit, in that it sounds sort of dry and more in tune with the 80s/90s, but the drum sound is predictably a lot more modern, which makes it a little odd. Songwise, opener “The Fire Within” impresses, as does “The Hourglass”. “White Lies” manages to even sound relaxed, as it’s slower than the breakneck speed almost everything else is recorded at, allowing for a breather. “Chains of the Earth” goes out of its way again, speedinous more than anything, so “The Dark Tower” that once again is on “normal” speed, I felt to be a superior composition, with “Moonstruck” following up valiantly and “Fall of the House of Usher” concluding the album on a heavier, slower note, quite majestic and epic indeed.
A nice combo of neoclassical and early 90s metal with bite, just like they used to make em once upon a time, only played a bit faster in places! Quite a bit of fun actually, but I’m under an impression it could have turned out a bit better, though.
Anyhow, utilizing current Obscura bassist, Linus Klausenitzer and their former band and alumnus, Hannes Grossmann on drums and with Ian Parry (ex-Elegy, ex-Crystal Tears) on vocals, this sounds like a weird mix between well, Obscura (sans the harsh vocals and going for a different style) and ehm, because of how Parry sounds, some mid-period Yngwie Malmsteen, with the drumming annoyingly being on top of everything and super prominent in the mix. It takes a bit of getting used to, I will admit, but you can’t help but be impressed by the performances sheer virtuosity.
I am a little uncertain, about the appeal of this, as old schoolers are unlikely to be hooked, although they might, but even harder than that would probably be to get extreme metal fans to follow this. Progsters might be floored, if they can be bothered to look beside the latest 10-hour Dream Theater masterpiece, for long enough…
The production suffers a bit, in that it sounds sort of dry and more in tune with the 80s/90s, but the drum sound is predictably a lot more modern, which makes it a little odd. Songwise, opener “The Fire Within” impresses, as does “The Hourglass”. “White Lies” manages to even sound relaxed, as it’s slower than the breakneck speed almost everything else is recorded at, allowing for a breather. “Chains of the Earth” goes out of its way again, speedinous more than anything, so “The Dark Tower” that once again is on “normal” speed, I felt to be a superior composition, with “Moonstruck” following up valiantly and “Fall of the House of Usher” concluding the album on a heavier, slower note, quite majestic and epic indeed.
A nice combo of neoclassical and early 90s metal with bite, just like they used to make em once upon a time, only played a bit faster in places! Quite a bit of fun actually, but I’m under an impression it could have turned out a bit better, though.