JUSTIN'S ROCK REVIEWS W/C 07/06/04
ETERNAL / THE SOMBRE LIGHT OF ISOLATION
If you thought Eternal were a British pop band you are wrong, what we have here is a Doom, Gothic Metal band from Australia, signed to a Finnish label.
I bought this CD totally on impulse when I was browsing the web looking at the forthcoming new releases and when I spotted the name of the band; I just had to find out more. After a short search I had found an MP3 from the band’s own site and their My Dying Bride / Opeth inspired sound was soon coming from my PC and the order was placed.
Their sound is very big and although there is a lot going on in the soundscape there is plenty of room for manorver and this is where the 8 minute plus songs really come into their own. The vocals are a mix of styles depending on the song and all tracks are a joy to hear, I can now say I have an Eternal CD, I am just waiting for someone to ring HFM and request and Eternal track, they are in for a surprise.
Best tracks; “the 10 minute title track, “A Cruel Misfortune”, “Dawn” and “A Crimson Sacrifice”
DOWNLOAD : “A Cruel Misfortune” from the bands site above
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 66 mins + 10 TRACKS
DARK TRANQUILLITY / EXPOSURE – IN RETROSPECT AND DENIAL
Listening to this CD you can see why Swedish Death Metal almost rules the world, it is so good, well produced, well written and expertly performed and to think, this isn’t even a proper album.
As the title suggests it’s a compilation, across the 2 Disc set you have an odds and sods of rare and unreleased tracks and Disc 2 is a live set from 2002 Damage tour.
First off, the oddities disc, comprised of Japanese and limited edition bonus cuts, unreleased tracks from the Damage sessions and re recording of their impossible to get early EP’s and considering the nature of the CD it has surprising continuity. Why the tracks that were recoded during the last album didn’t make it onto that CD is beyond me, it obviously wasn’t because they sub standard, more likely they just didn’t fit the feel of it because they are all top notch songs, with the trade mark sound, technicality proficient Death Metal with a touch of Melody and a whole lot of pnazz.
The Live CD is well recorded and captures the band in a good light and although I don’t rate Live CD’s , as this is a bonus thank you to the fans it makes it makes it well worth having and gives everyone a chance to see what they can do live.
Best Tracks; “”Static”, “Misery In Me”, “Yesterworld” & “No One”
TOTAL PLAYING TIME DISC 1 = 64 mins + 12 TRACKS, LIVE CD = 78 mins + 19 TRACKS
ANCIENT / NIGHT VISIT
This is how Black Metal should be, dark, menacing, brooding with a haunted quality to it, like a sirens call, drawing you ever onward to your certain doom but somehow you don’t care because your enjoying it.
It’s been a long while sine Proxima Centauri but the wait has bee worth it, Deadly Kristin is no longer a full time member of the band bund but does make an appearance on a couple of tracks and no doubt will continue to pop up on occasions. The guitar work is superb and makes the songs sound like they are possessed and the mix of traditional Black Metal sound coupled with the occasional orchestration helps the band rise above the competition. All in all this is another great Ancient CD and as essential a purchase as the Halls Of Eternity.
The digipack version has 2 extra tracks that are instrumental and best described as Black Ambient and a video of “Night Visit”.
Best tracks; “The Rape Of The Children Of Abel”, “Truth Unveiled”, “Lycanthropy” and “Night Visit”
DOWNLOAD : “The Rape Of The Children Of Abel” from either site above
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 48 mins + 10 TRACKS + CD ROM
