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Sleep Of Reason - 40 Online
Source: The Metal Forge webzine (Australia)
URL: http://www.themetalforge.com/
Reviewer: Justin Donnelly
Date of Access: -
In what has been a frustrating and endless wait since it’s overseas release date back in October 2005, Australian (Melbourne) based act The Eternal have finally secured a distributor for their sophomore effort Sleep Of Reason nationally, and I can honestly say the wait has been well worth it. Following up the critical acclaim that was lauded upon their debut outing The Sombre Light Of Isolation back in 2004 was no doubt a daunting task for the band (Who’s line up now features vocalist/guitarist Mark Kelson, new guitarist Lincoln Bowen, bassist James Hunt, keyboardist Chris Stevenson and new drummer Marty O’Shea), but The Eternal have not only managed to succeed in avoid the dreaded sophomore curse, but also diversified their sound beyond the strict doom confines to incorporate stronger melodic structures, along with elements of gothic rock and its associated atmospherics.
After the two minute long metallic doom sounding introduction piece Awaken, Arise, The Eternal quickly change direction towards more latter day Paradise Lost with the mid paced Everlasting. Kelson’s vocals deep vocalised verses counteract nicely with the higher ranged chorus, while the minimalist approach to the track’s overall structure ensures a certain catchiness, and sure to win a whole new set of followers in the process. To Drown returns more towards latter day My Dying Bride territory (If a little more progressive instrumentation wise) with its heavier sound and lumbering pace, while a hint of Dead Soul Tribe can be heard in part on the dramatic A Soul Undone.
Female vocalist Ainslie Wills, who appeared on The Eternal’s debut on a few select tracks, returns once again to duet with Kelson on the sweeping/melancholy Hollow Inside (Not to mention help out more on the ballad like The Dying Light), while In My Skin, the instrumental title track Sleep Of Reason and A Dream’s End drop almost all of the band’s old doom aspects for a more melodic sound that drifts somewhere between HIM, latter day Sentenced and Amorphis. Returning full circle, The Eternal once again delve into far more doom inspired sounds with Beneath The Soil and the mammoth twelve-minute middle eastern influenced epic Weight Of Empathy to finish off the album.
Even though The Eternal may turn away some fans who enjoyed the overall doom feel of their debut with the introduction of gothic/rock influences, it’s safe to say that the band are sure to impress a far greater number with their penchant for stretching beyond what most fans preconceived expectations are of their second effort. Everything from the diversity of styles on offer, the better sounding production (Once again handled by Black Majesty/Vanishing Point guitarist Endel Rivers) to the stunning cover artwork/package (Created by none other than Travis Smith) only reinforces The Eternal’s position as one of Australia’s more talented (But sadly overlooked nationally) exports in recent years.
Source: Sinister Online webzine (Australia)
URL: http://www.sinister.com.au/
Review by Lachlan McLeod
Rating: 8/10
Date of Access: -
The Eternal are one of the top metal bands in Australia at the moment and it's easy to see why. Sleep Of Reason (their second album) should appeal to most metal fans. It also has the potential to gain popularity in the mainstream.
This is largely due to the track Everlasting. Whether they admit it or not every band hopes to record a song like this. Everlasting stays glued in your mind and is something you will always want to listen to. As much as music is subjective I would be lost for words if someone said they didn't like this song.
Of the rest of the album there is plenty to enjoy. Of the slower numbers (of which there are many) Hollow Inside is my favourite. On the heavier side A Dream's End is the standout.
The only negative is the CD's length. As none of the songs are really fast I struggled to remain interested for the entire album. The last song Weight of Empathy clocks in at just over 12 minutes which I found to long for this type of music.
The Eternal have a great future ahead of them and should do well overseas. Promoters should get them to be the opening band for Katatonia (if they ever come here). We can live in hope.
Source: FYU Zine (Belgium)
URL: http://deimos.curious.be/~hwijnen/dmbe/mambo/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=413&Itemid=26
Reviewer: Soph
Rating: 90/100
Date of access: -
Australian doom? How can this be when we in the Northern hemisphere surely own the rights to this genre with our generally shite weather as inspiration. Admittedly, I listened to this with some suspicion. My first conclusion, this aint doom. Now we’ve got that out of the way, I’ll categorise The Eternal as darkly melodic-symphonic rock, even bordering on progressive at times. A myriad of interesting influences can be found, ranging from some slower doomy riffs from Cathedral, Sonata Arctica for melody and weepiness, and even Led Zeppelin creeps in there at certain points. There are a lot of strong points and memorable aspects to The Eternal, their vocalist being one of them, Mark Kelson. This chap has a very decent clean voice which doesn’t dominate or warble, he experiments with styles convincingly, from quirky to screaming, from what feels like a reading from a love poem to a bewailing of life in general. The music really is something else too. I love the bass and guitar work in this, it ranges from twingy twangy, to powerfully atmospheric (in its Led Zep moments), backed up superbly by keyboards and (I think) female vocals on track 11. The Eternal are certainly a band worth checking out by all.Source: Inpress (Street press, Australia)
Reviewer: N/A
Rating: N/A
CD OF THE WEEK (INPRESS)
THE ETERNAL Sleep Of Reason (Firebox Records)
This second album from Melbourne dark melodic metal act The Eternal is a world class effort, with excellent production, artwork and most importantly musical content. Local acts take note - this is how you go about setting yourself apart from the pack. Their sound is melancholy, guitar driven metal, with keyboards adding atmospherics and melodic interplay throughout. Front man, guitarist and main songwriter Mark Kelson sounds uncannily like Nick Holmes from Paradise Lost at times and there's little doubt The Eternal draw inspiration from the UK's finest goth metal act, but there's some great song writing and original ideas on this disc and the band are polished and seasoned performers in their own right. This is an excellent collection of epic doom metal tracks with soaring vocals and a majestic and accomplished sound.
Source: Metal Storm (Estonia)
URL: http://www.metalstorm.ee/pub/review.php?review_id=576
Reviewer: Undercraft
Rating: 8/10
Date of access: -
The Eternal return with their sophomore album entitled "Sleep Of Reason" a worthy follow up to their debut "The Sombre Light Of Isolation".
Things have changed since their debut album, after several spins of this album, the whole atmosphere feels less darker and sombre than their debut. Also, the band goes for 2 types of songs now, some are very Doomy and some others are quite Gothic and I dare to say "commercial".
But fear not, this is not a bad album in any way, is just a natural progression, nobody wants to hear the same album twice.
The album starts with a short intro called "Awaken, Arise" and immediately cuts to "Everlasting" a damn catchy song that has written "radio hit" all over.
"To Drown" is a return to the darker roots of the band, this song showcases the powerful and dramatic vocals of Mark Kelson. "Hollow Inside" is a awesome ballad with a lot of memorable moments, "A Dream's End" is another upbeat catchy song in the vein of "Everlasting" while "The Dying Light" brings again the gloom and melancholy that we're used to when listening The Eternal.
Definitively this album is much more varied than its predecessor, the range of influences seems wider and the trademarks of the band also expanded, there's still the marvellous keyboards and vocals as always, but the album definitively feels different.
Special mention to the artwork and presentation, totally top notch, the cover art designed by artist extraordinaire Travis Smith is eye candy for anyone into this kind of sombre art. (as a matter of fact, the cover art was inspired in a Francisco Goya etching).
As I stated before, this is a worthy successor to their first album, while the level of gloom and despair has gone down a notch, you can still rely on those melancholic atmospheres that The Eternal always deliver. To any fan of Gothic or Doom Metal, this album is totally recommended.
Source: The Metal Observer (Canada)
URL: http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=9846
Reviewer: Alex
Rating: 7.5
Date of access: Online April 17, 2006
THE ETERNAL’s debut album “The Sombre Light Of Isolation” had been a very nice surprise back in 2004, as I had not heard much Doom from Australia prior to that and the certain Gothic Metal influence in their songs also was a nice loosening up of the usual slo-mo tempo, so that I had quite some hope for their second effort “Sleep Of Reason“ to continue down this path.
Well, these hopes have received a dampening after the unusually dark and also heavy intro “Awaken, Arise“ by opener “Everlasting“. OK, dampened might not be the right word, rather I had to adjust these hopes, as there is not much Doom left, instead they have opted for a far more catchy, less heavy sound that stands closer to newer KATATONIA, ANATHEMA and also PARADISE LOST, so a lot more rocking than before. Now I don’t want to imply that “Everlasting” was a weak opener, far from it, it is incredibly catchy and melodic, so they might be able to win a completely new listener base.
And with that we already have reached the marching direction and at the same time risk of this album, the incredible catchiness and reduced heaviness. THE ETERNAL have to be really careful not to sit between all chairs and have this style adjustment viewed as calculated, for this could quickly push them into the corner of “sell out”, especially by fans of the debut, which could be quite disappointed by the sounds of this album.
In the same breath, though, I also have to say that they have a number of potential hits with songs such as the dark-intense “To Drown“, “Hollow Inside“ (where they use female vocals for the first time), the exceptional “Beneath The Soil“, which takes up the Doomy side of the band again, or the Doom epos “Weight Of Empathy“, which, at least in the case of the two last mentioned songs, also should really appeal to the old fans again.
Together with a more powerful production (compared to the debut) I could imagine that the Australians might gain a lot of new fans, followers of their earlier songs could have some problems, though. I still like it!
Source: Moving hands
URL: http://www.movinghands.net/reviews/detail.asp?id=1071
Reviewer: Johan Astemark
Rating: 7/10
Date of access: 22/05/2006
The Eternal are a melancholic Australian band, musically close to the doom and gothic metal genres. They play rather depressing and dark metal, to put it simply.
After the intro, the gothic rock song "Everlasting" follows and it's a nice piece of work - perhaps a little lighter and easier than most of the material on their previous album, "The Sombre Light of Isolation". The momentarily hope of "Everlasting" is drowned with the slow and anguish ridden "To Drown", which is a fine piece of work where electronic piano and strings are well incorporated to shape a gloomy atmosphere! This type of slow, dark and depressive music with likewise lyrics is what follows. Other songs that must be mentioned are "Hollow Inside" and "A Dream's End", which are strong songs that stand out!
This is a well-executed and fine album, although it is slightly anonymous compared to its predecessor but yet in the same vein and of similar quality. What you get is 11 songs, of gothic, melancholic and doom metal, clocking in at almost an hour. If Paradise Lost, "Icon" and "Draconian Times" style, and maybe My Dying Bride are your kind of music, then this is your bag of gloomy darkness!
Source: Melankolia
URL: http://www.melankolia.net/music/archives/2005/10/eternal_the_sle.html
Reviewer: Mikko Saari
Rating: 4/5
Date of access: 03/10/2005
The Eternal points to Fransisco de Goya's art with their latest album. The name is lifted from Goya's painting ("sleep of reason creates monsters") and the beautiful cover painting by Travis Smith (man behind Opeth's album covers) is a tribute to Goya's work. Clever. The music is quite interesting, too: there's a full range from crawling doom to melodic goth rock. I like the doomy parts best, but the rest works just fine, as well. Good work!
Source: CD Universe
URL: http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6968900/a/Sleep+Of+Reason.htm
Reviewer: N/A
Rating: N/A
Date of access: 03/10/05
This second album from rockers Eternal builds on their intriguing debut with 11 tracks varying from the instrumental title track to the melodic "Everlasting" and the dark, heavy "To Drown".
Recorded early in 2005, "Sleep Of Reason" both defines and extends the Eternal's sound from their debut work. Less convoluted than its predecessor, it packs 11 songs into 59 minutes, which vary in feel from the emotive melodic rock of 'Everlasting and 'A Dream's End' to the stifling drag of 'Beneath the Soil' and 'Weight of Empathy'. Points in between include the progressive nightmare-scape of 'To Drown', the dub like flow of 'In My Skin' and the Zeppelin-esque ballad 'The Dying Light'. Whilst Mark Kelson's clear, soaring vocals are the focal point of "Sleep Of Reason", and have improved in impact from the band's debut work, the eponymous instrumental track clearly demonstrates the whole band's ability to make strong musical statements filled with both emotion and atmosphere.
Source: Metal Rage (Netherlands)
URL: http://www.metalrage.com/reviews/574
Reviewer: DemonDust
Rating: 74%
Date of access: 30/10/05
From the new collection of promo’s Metalrage had gotten there were two doom metal records. One being funeral doom, which I almost completely dislike, and one being atmospheric doom. Finally something that practically obligates me to give it a stoned review!
The reason for that being of course the impact of music being oh so much more heavier after a few bong hits, especially with something as heavy as doom metal. Although The Eternal didn’t appear to be as heavy as I had hoped it does have an immense collection of spacey keyboard tunes and effects. Normally if I only hear a keyboard I’m pretty sure that I’m not gonna like that specific album, but after hearing this trip called Sleep of Reason like three times I was once again proven wrong. Fantastic atmospheric noises keep pouring out of the speakers, making it the best asset of this band for me.
Another think that oddly came to my liking were Mark Kelson’s vocals. Clean, almost pop-orientated vocals with doom metal doesn’t sound like it’s gonna work, but believe me it kind of matches. Not every time though, there are some parts where he drives it a bit too far, and starts to look a bit like James LaBrie.
The music accompanying these vocals, is far from the heavy doom metal that is taking over a huge part in my record collection, but less and less heavier. They use the style of music more in a way of tempo, nice and slow that is. But the term metal could easily be replaced by something more gentile, fitting more to the album’s sound, which happens to be a lot like rock. Listening to this album relaxes one in a pleasant way too, calmness enveloped me when reviewing this, unlike a heavy ass fuck Electric Wizard record that completely absorbs me into the couch or bed I’m lying on.
Definitely an album that I can appreciate, also because of some small rhythmical escapades here and there, which make the best tracks for me. I don’t think I would have bought it myself, since there’s so much more doom I must buy. But if you’re looking for a slightly depressing but very relaxing spacey doom rock album I can advise nothing better than this one.
Source: Gothtronic Webzine (Netherlands)
URL: http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&reviews=1747
Reviewer: Lykle
Rating: 8.3
Date of access: N/A
Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Katatonia. If these names appeal to you, you'll probably like "Sleep of Reason", the second album of the Australian band The Eternal, as well. So the band plays melancholic music on the edge of gothic and doom metal and it sounds quite convincing. With the heavy intro "Awaken, Arise" the illusion's being created that you are listening to a pure doom metal album, but soon enough you'll be proven wrong with the first real song "Everlasting".
Due to the clean vocals and the sometimes poppy edge of the songs, The Eternal mostly reminds me of Paradise Lost, although the overall atmosphere is a bit darker. There is also still room for some heavier songs, like "Beneath the Soil" and the brilliant, epic last song "Weight of Empathy", but the more mellow songs are dominant on the album; "Hollow Inside" for example even shows references to Dead Soul Tribe. With all these comparisons you'd almost start to think that "Sleep of Reason" is a useless album, but the quality is high enough to make the album worthwhile. The great production and the beautifully fitting artwork by Travis Smith really make this album complete, so we can speak of a very good release.
Source: Live 4 metal webzine
URL: http://www.live4metal.com/reviews-348.htm
Reviewer: Matt Mason
Rating: N/A
Date of access:
The great thing about reviewing bands by whom you know nowt, is the presumptions you can make. A cursory look at the black grainy cover and I had decided that this band were blackened thrash or maybe Katatonia clones. (Artist Travis Smith of Opeth and Katatonia fame provides the artwork) Photo inside- right big bruiser types including a drummer with the most bullet shaped head I have ever seen. Metalcore- must be? Maybe with some horror overtones? Hold on. They are from Australia – Blood Duster? AC/DC? Pegazus? Woah! It’s Melbourne they hail from. Weird that the first band I thought of was TISM a mid nineties combo who had a song in the Aussie charts with the refrain “I’m on the drug
that killed River Phoenix”!!!!
The press release talks of emotive melodic rock (hang about) Progressive (what have you done to me Pete???) nightmare scapes and Zeppelinesque ballads (Nooooooooooooooooooo for the love of God). I was afraid. Very afraid. No need really – it is not my cup of Darjeeling but these gents make a melodic racket that is pretty pleasing on the lugholes.
Everlasting reminds me of My Dying Bride in their more melodic moments kinda classic gothy rock (no capital G though). Vocalist Mark Kelson has a strong distinctive voice, which in some places reminds me of Wayne Hussey but without the whiskey!
Fans of Nightwish would lap up the morose sonicscapes that this five-piece paint and doomsters will find solace in the chunky bass lines and heavy arse riffage. The musicianship and production on this their second official release is excellent. Every note is crisp and clear and the drums are particularly well recorded.
Check out website www.the-eternal.com for samples and to download a 30 min “Making of….” Doc.
The overall feel of the album is one of romantic melancholy and I can imagine a few crushed velvet wearing couples snuggling up and listening to Sleep of Reason. Ballad The Dying Light is surely a cue for any would be L’estat to go in for the kill (or at least a snog).
The emphasis on Sleep of Reason is on the gothic elements rather than that of doom but fans of Anathema will enjoy the dramatic ambience. An audio representation of an Anne Rice novel and definitely a must for many. I am more of a Richard Laymon reader myself.
Source: Pyro Music webzine (Australia)
URL: http://www.pyromusic.net/
Reviewer: Pyro
Rating: 7.5
Date of access:
Rockified Doom Metal has really taken off in recent years. The most prolific example being Katatonia who have have seamlessly combined catchy beats and melody, hints of pace and downright depressing music into a fresh, potent concoction, and in doing so have drawn legions of new fans to the genre. While sounding quite dissimilar and far-removed from the style (it is about as close as one can get to describing their unique sound), The Eternal, having formed just 2 and a half years ago in the ashes of Cryptal Darkness, are hot on the trail of Katatonia as one of the most accessible Doom bands around, further forging a niché for themselves with their second album in as many years, 'Sleep Of Reason'.
Following a brief introduction, 'Sleep Of Reason''s definitve' 'Everlasting' introduces us to the melancholic aural stylings of the Melbourne quintet. Thumping drums, bleak-yet-melodic guitars and soft keys combine before the emotive vocals of frontman/guitarist Mark Kelson provide a path for his evocative lyrics to take hold. 'To Drown' ensues, and is a much drearier track, lulling the pace dramatically and hinting at an album packed with variety, which is exactly what succeeding tracks provide. 'A Soul Undone' is as far removed from its predecessor as one would expect, using thunderous drums and powerful riffs to convey a sense of drama. 'A Soul Undone' is heavy and highly memorable. Latter highlights include the wonderful duet entitled 'Hollow Inside', the highly infectious 'A Dream's End' and 'The Dying Light' - a gentle, soothing track and the second longest on offer.
I won't beat around the bush. The Eternal aren't for everyone. Their take on Doom is unique and uncommon, and will likely deter as many as it attracts, but 'A Sleep Of Reason' is an album I highly recommend fans of anything Doom to seriously investigate. I love it and topping things off is a wonderful cover care of album artist extraordinaire , the untouchable Travis Smith.
Source: Zero Magazine (Norway)
URL: http://www.zeromagazine.nu/rec.asp?id=999
Reviewer: Emma Olofsson
Rating: NA
Date of Access: 3 October 2005
Sleep of Reason är australiensiska The Eternals' andra fullängdare. Den innehåller elva spår, varav nio flyter förbi utan att jag reagerar, men i alla fall två av dem är riktigt bra.
Spår nummer två, ”Everlasting”, har viss hit-potential - den får mig att tänka på band som HIM eller Evanescence - medan tunga rockballader som ”Beneath The Soil” och ”The Dying Light” bara tråkar ut mig. Av de återstående heter favoriten ”A Dream's End”, en riktigt bra låt som lätt fastnar, mycket tack vare den svängiga refrängen.
The Eternals sångare Mark Kelson har en stark och vacker röst, men som helhet är det här ändå inget speciellt. Stundtals pampigt, stundtals riktigt vackert, men ändå bara en av alla nya hårdrocksplattor. Tyvärr, säger jag, men skulle samtidigt inte tacka nej till fler låtar i ”A Dream's End”-anda.
Source: Lords of Metal (The Netherlands)
URL: http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=6196&lang=nl
Reviewer: Vera
Rating: 88/100
Date of Access: 3 October 2005
[The Eternal - Sleep Of Reason] Vera: The Eternal werd opgericht in 2003 in Melbourne als natuurlijke voortzetting van Cryptal Darkness. Het in 2004 uitgebrachte 'The Sombre Light Of Isolation' werd gevolgd door uitgebreide tournees in Australië, Hong Kong en Europa. Hierbij was gitarist en medeoprichter Chris Burton al niet meer van de partij, maar hij werd vakkundig vervangen door Matt Castles. Inmiddels is een vaste vervanger gevonden in Lincoln Bowen en achter de drumkit treffen we nieuwkomer Marty O'Shea. Vlak na het toeren werd al begonnen met het schrijven van nieuwe nummers, vast geïnspireerd door de rijke ervaringen onderweg.
Het laat ons een band horen die sterk geëvolueerd is en inmiddels helemaal afgedwaald van de doom wortels. Want dit was de eerste hamvraag die ik mezelf stelde bij beluistering: kan men The Eternal nog doom metal noemen? In feite niet. De evolutie die met het vorige album is ingezet, heeft zich op een natuurlijke wijze verder ontwikkeld en laat The Eternal van nu eerder omschrijven als een melodieuze rock band met gothic en progressieve invloeden. Dit betekent wel dat elk nummer heel wat gelaagdheid heeft en minutieus is uitgewerkt. Een optimale klank ook, die vastgelegd werd door de Estse gitaarvirtuoos Endel Rivers (Black Majesty, Vanishing Point) in de Palm Studios in Melbourne. Daarna kreeg diezelfde muziek nog de mastering touch van grootmeester Mika Jussila in de Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. Dit alles om even te illustreren waar dit album zijn perfecte geluid vandaan heeft.
Het intro biedt ons scheurende gitaren, beukende ritmes en een beetje dissonante geluiden om de 'Awake, Arise' van een nieuw werkstuk aan te kondigen. Verrassend genoeg krijgen we daarna in de vorm van 'Everlasting' een heel toegankelijk gothic nummer met de typische herhalende gitaarpatronen en heldere zang. Was de band op de eersteling 'The Sombre Light Of Isolation' nog zoekende, dit tweede album toont vooral een verdere ontwikkeling van de stijl van nummers als 'Black Serenity' en 'Down' van het vorige album. Want ook 'In My Skin' en 'A Dream's End' zijn compacte, catchy songs met een erg vertrouwd geluid dat we ook kennen van Scandinavische bands als Charon, Sentenced en Amorphis. Prachtig is 'To Drown', dat met zijn rijke toetsen en fluisterstem naar het einde toe een heel beklemmend gevoel weet op te bouwen. In dit nummer en 'A Soul Undone' duiken referenties op naar Dead Soul Tribe en dan zijn we meteen rijp voor de volgende bedenking. 'Sleep Of Reason' is een album dat rijk is aan symfonische/progressieve invloeden en dit door meer orkestrale arrangementen. In de vorm van 'Hollow Inside' en 'The Dying Light' bevat 'Sleep Of Reason' twee mooie trage nummers waar melancholie centraal staat. Allemaal heel knap gedaan, maar toch vind ik dat de band vroeger iets avontuurlijker en minder gepolijst uit de hoek kwam. Enkel het afsluitende 'Weight Of Empathy' getuigt nog van een innerlijke drang tot experiment. Met zijn twaalf minuten lengte voert deze compositie ons doorheen een walhalla van atmosferische gitaarklanken, donkere zang en expressieve vrouwelijke vocalen in de stijl van 'The Great Gig In The Sky' van Pink Floyd. En nu die naam toch gevallen is: de onheilspellende atmosfeer en heerlijk nazinderende gitaarlijnen doen evenzeer denken aan de moloch uit de jaren zeventig. Al is dit wereldnummer als geheel wel harder. In een tijd waar bands als Green Carnation en Opeth ook een publiek van progressieve rock fans aanspreken, verruimt ook het Australische The Eternal zijn horizon in die richting.
Source: heavymetal.hu (Hungary)
URL: http://www.heavymetal.hu/default.asp?t=kritika&id=1605
Reviewer: Avenger
Rating: 10/10
Date of Access: 3 October 2005
Az ausztráliai Melbourne városából származó The Eternal 2003-ban alakult, a veterán Cryptal Darkness nevû doom banda feloszlásának következményeképpen. Az év végén már le is szerzõdtek a finn Firebox kiadóhoz, 2004 Júniusában pedig kiadták a The Sombre Light of Isolation címû elsõ lemezüket. Miután körbeturnézták a fél világot, nekiláttak, hogy megírják az idei évre tervezett második album anyagát.
Elsõ hallásra a Sleep of Reason nem más, mint egy pokolian lehúzós, My Dying Bride alapú gothic/ doom metal. Azonban itt nincs hörgés, de még a pár másodperces károgások is elmaradnak. Helyette populáris hangzású, tiszta ének szólal meg, rendkívül kifinomult és higgadt zenei aláfestéssel. A borító és a finn kiadó (na meg a jelszavuk) alapján úgy gondoltam északi bandáról van szó, így teljes mértékben meglepetésként ért ausztrál származásuk. Ez a tény azonban a zenén keresztül is tökéletesen átjön, amit kivételesen nem az északi hangulat ihletett, így olyan ingerek és hatások is érzõdnek, amik eddig ismeretlenek voltak, és csak az õ környezetükre jellemzõ, így kreálva eredetiséget a mindössze két éves bandának.
Már az indítás is kellõen megtévesztõ, rögtön lecsapnak egy instrumentális, elvont hatású, ám szigorú metal dallal (ami véleményem szerint introként funkcionál). Ezt - mintegy önellentmondásként - az Everlasting címû nóta követi, ami nemes egyszerûséggel egy dallamos refrénû dark/ pop sláger. A következõkben aztán kapunk hideget-meleget egyaránt. Gyakorlatilag váltakoznak a hosszú és mély hangulatú eposzok (To Drown, Soul Undone, Weight of Empathy) illetve a rögtön befogadható mintadalok (Hollow Inside, A Dream's End). Vannak persze kategorizálás terén árva szerzemények is, mint például a Beneath The Soil, ami egy irgalmatlan doom úthenger.
Annyira természetes és belülrõl fakadó az egész, hogy esetükben még a monoton részek sem tudnak idegesítõen hosszú ideig ismétlõdni. Minden egyes dal gondosan fel van építve, a rendkívül ütõs vokálok ott vannak, ahol lenniük kell, és az instrumentális részek is egytõl-egyik hibátlanok. A végsõ képet meghatározó egyéb tényezõkben is plusz pontokat szerez a csapat, a kifinomult hangszerelés, és hangszerkezelés végett. A borító tökéletes - nem is lehetne más, mivel Travis Smith munkája. A hangzás is felzárkózik a produkció minõségéhez, erre pedig két jól ismert arc, Endel Rivers és Mika Jussila a garancia. Igazi ajándék volt számomra ez a lemez, melynek beszerzése kötelezõ jellegû.
Source: Metal Review (U.S.A)
URL: http://www.metalreview.com/viewreview.aspx?ID=1959
Reviewer: Doug Moore
Rating: Rating Scale: 1-6
Production 5.0
Songwriting 4.0
Musicianship 4.5
Date of Access: 3 October 2005
It’s sure easy to talk about how heavy doom metal is. You’d think that even the featherweights of a genre that’s dedicated to being the most trudging, the most downtuned, and the most spectacularly weighty brand of metal would still hit pretty hard, but such is not the case. The Eternal play a familiar brand of goth-rock doom, or doomy goth rock, or rocky doom goth, or some such combination thereof, and to be perfectly couth, this shit has no business associating itself with doom metal as it’s commonly understood. Where doom metal is ultimately visceral music, relying on density and volume to get its point across, The Eternal and their peers attack from a more melodic and structured standpoint. Though the music bears some superficial similarity to doom in terms of pacing and tuning, it ultimately holds its dramatic gothic influences more dearly, and whether or not that’s a good thing is at the reader’s discretion. As for the example at hand, this Aussie bunch has performed competently on Sleep of Reason, but the album’s success will ultimately depend upon the listener’s patience for this kind of crossbreed.
The material on Sleep of Reason is split along relatively clear goth/doom lines; there’s plenty of both mid-tempo synth bouncing and thick chordage, but rarely do the twain meet. If anything, this album is slightly canted towards the lighter end of the spectrum, and there’s nary a harsh vocal to be found on the album. Similarly, the majority of the songs here feature some manner of catchy chorus, usually lofted into the stratosphere by Mark Kelson’s excellent voice. It’s not a homogenous album, certainly, and The Eternal tend to trade off between effective chorus vehicles like “Dream’s End” and heavier, more My Dying Bride-esque tracks like “To Drown.”
This dichotomy actually ends up hurting the album, unfortunately. It appears that The Eternal would have produced a much more efficacious, consistent collection of songs had they chosen one aspect of their sound and focused on it. While the first half hour or so of music works well, the twin-guitar instrumentation of “Sleep of Reason” is a little too stale for its own good, and by the time the appropriately titled “Everlasting” draws (finally) to a close, the listener is simply waiting on the next popped-out chorus or melancholic guitar harmony. The heavy parts aren’t massive enough to keep the songs grounded, and their presence is still frequent enough to bar The Eternal from allowing their melodies to really take charge of the lengthy songs.
While this band has some genuine songwriting potency, their Janus-faced songsmithing and tendency to outstay their welcome renders Sleep of Reason simply above average. If The Eternal can focus and galvanize their sound, they might rise to some degree of prominence, but for now they will appeal primarily to the paradoxical demographic inhabited by those who like their doom metal light and their goth rock heavy.
Source: Alternative ‘Zine (Israel)
URL: http://www.alternative-zine.com/reviews/en/296
Reviewer: NA
Rating: NA
Date of Access: September 2005
English Version:
First thing that struck me with this album, is how good is its cover, the work of the ever dependable Travis Smith, and it truly catches the feel of the band, melancholy and depression.
The album sounds good too, a crisp, clear sound by Endel Rivers, Guitar whiz from bands such as Black Majesty and Vanishing Point, with a mix by the ever dependable Mikka Jussila.
It opens with the instrumental Awaken, Arise, a nice somber piece that leads the way to one of the album's stronger cuts, Everlasting, two minutes into the song and I'm thinking "Is this Paradise Lost??" its sounds as if taken from Paradise's One Second album, just minus the electronic bits, that's not saying its not good, it’s a great track, with a cool rhythm and deep vocals that sound like Nick Holmes only better.
Second track again reminded me of a British band, My Dying Bride this time, no growled vocals here, but the slow tempo, the droning doom guitars, the Dying Bride feel is certainly there.
There's no shortage of talent here, fine musicianship all around, and Mark Kelson's vocals give the band an added respectability, they sound well-rounded and heartfelt, and tracks as depressive as Hollow Inside benefit from it, the use of female vocals to accentuate his voice is a smart decision, as is the decision not to over empathize them, thus turning the band into another Goth wannabe.
The Dying Light is an epic track, with some interesting tempo changes and fine riffs, but I admit I needed some more energy at times, I felt the need for a quicker kind of doom rhythm, and only Everlasting came close to that, nevertheless, the album is prefect for fans of melancholic doom bands such as Anathema or Katatonia.
Source: Tinnitus (Germany)
URL: http://www.tinnitus-mag.de/
Reviewer: NA
Rating: 9.5/10
Date of Access: September 2005
Schmächlich muss ich gestehen, dass ich The Eternal bis zur Veröffentlichung
dieser Cd nicht kannte. Denn was die Band hier mit ihrem Zweitwerk
abliefert, ist einfach nur groß: tragender, eher schleppender melodischer
sehr düsterer Metal, der irgendwie grob in die Richtung von modernen
Amorphis oder Paradise Lost zu Icon/Draconian Times geht. Die Songs ziehen
sich langsam mit gelegentlichen Einbrüchen von tonnenschweren Riffs dahin
und das Album ist eine komplette Elegie an das Dahinsiechen in dieser Welt.
Die Australier haben jedoch ihren eigenen Weg gefunden und ich möchte
betonen, dass die hier angeführten Bands nur richtungsweisend zu sehen sind,
da The Eternal auf ihre Art definitiv einzigartig sind: hier finden sich
schwermütige, traurige Songs, die dem Elend dieser Zeit noch ein schönes
Gesicht angedeihen lassen.
Der Sänger ist mit seinen herausragendem cleanen Gesang dazu noch das
i-Tüpfelchen auf den sehr großen Kompositionen. Er erinnert mich auch
manchmal an oben genannte Bands in eben den Releasephasen, vereint dazu
allerdings noch mehr als genug eigene Aspekte und hat eine Stimme mit
Volumen und Widererkennungswert.
An der Produktion ist absolut gar nichts zu meckern, die Verhältnisse von
den einzelnen Instrumenten und dem Gesang sind perfekt. Im Gegensatz zu
vielen anderen Bands in diesem Sektor, wird hier das Keyboard eher
unterstützend eingesetzt und wirkt denn auch niemals störend oder fehl am
Platze.
Dazu kommt noch ein großartiges Cover, das stark an Katatonias Viva
Emptiness erinnert aber hervorragend zur traurigen Musik der Band passt. Und
siehe da, der Künstler - Travis Smith- ist auch tatsächlich der Gleiche, der
auch eben genannte Katatonia Scheibe mit seinem Künstlergeschick veredelte.
Eins muss ich allerdings noch sagen: die Kompositionen brauchen alle ihre
Zeit. So ist es dann auch nicht verwunderlich, dass mir bei den ersten
Hördurchläufen, die Größe des Releases vorerst verborgen blieb. Allerdings
änderte sich das stetig und ich finde auch jetzt noch zunehmend Gefallen an
den Kompositionen. Hervorstechend sind auf jeden Fall "Awaken ,Arsie",
"Everlasting" oder "Hollow Inside". Das aber nur als kleinen Anhaltspunkt
zum Reinhören, denn die Platte ist von vorn bis hinten einfach nur
meisterhaft.
The Eternals "Sleep Of Reason" ist für mich uneingeschränkt großartig und
empfehlenswert und ich rate jedem anspruchsvollen Hörer, der bereit ist,
etwas Zeit in großartige, gefühlvolle Musik zu investieren, an, diese CD
unbedingt sein eigen nennen zu können.
Mit diesem Release hat die Band definitiv ihren Platz gefunden und ich
erwarte zukünftiges noch viel großes, von dieser großen Band.
Source: Metal Inside (Germany)
URL: http://www.metal-inside.de/dyn/review.jsp?id=5806
Reviewer: http://www.metal-inside.de/dyn/steckbrief.jsp?id=lh" lh
Rating: NA
Date of Access: September 2005
THE ETERNAL waren nach dem letztjährigen Debüt “The Sombre Light Of Isolation” nicht untätig und haben nach einigen Wechseln im Line-Up den Nachfolger “Sleep Of Reason” eingespielt und bei (Achtung! Namedropping!) Meister Jussila im Finnvox mastern lassen. Das Resultat kann sich hören lassen, wie gewohnt hat der Mann verdammt gute Arbeit abgeliefert und den perfekten Sound für eine düstere Rockplatte hingezaubert. Richtig, Düsterrock gibt es hier und keinen Doom mehr wie noch auf dem Debüt. Hin und wieder schimmern die alten Tagen zwar durch, aber das ist selten. THE ETERNAL bewegen sich mehr Richtung PARADISE LOST, PIST.ON (der Gesang) und ein bißchen in Richtung ANATHEMA. Beim Opener „Awaken, Arise“ wird ordentlich gerockt und der Hörer anständig auf das Hörerlebnis vorgewarnt. Wenn es mal ruhiger wird, erinnern THE ETERNAL an die große britische Band, bei „In My Skin“ werden PARADISE LOST vor Neid erblassen und man vermeint sogar den jungen Nick Holmes am Mikro zu hören. „Sleep Of Reason“ ist eine für mich unerwartete Weiterentwicklung, denn ich hätte mit einer mindestens genauso doomigen Platte wie „The Sombre Light Of Isolation“ gerechnet, aber nicht mit diesem rockenden Album. Es ist aber eine angenehme Überraschung, so vielschichtig und eingängig, melancholisch und wütend, gefühlvoll und wütend ist selten eine Platte. Ein perfekter Soundtrack für den beginnenden Herbst und ganz sicher eine der positiven Überraschungen diesen Jahres!
Source: Muzyka (Poland)
URL: http://muzyka.gery.pl/cms/?id=20172
Reviewer:
Rating: 4/5
Date of Access: September 2005
Niespecjalnie oczekiwa?em kolejnego uderzenia ze strony australijskiego The Eternal. Owszem, debiutancki album ekipy z Antypodów - 'The Sombre Light of Isolation' - zrobi? na mnie niez?e wra?enie, ale, jak to w przypadku ?ó?todziobów bywa, nie rzuci? mnie na kolana. Ot, dobry doom/gotycki albumik.
Z kolei 'Sleep of Reason' zaskakuje na dzie? dobry krocz?cym, walcowatym 'Awaken, Arise'. Gdyby ca?y album wygl?da? tak, jak otwieracz, to móg?bym napisa?, i? mamy do czynienia z rewelacj? w doom metalowym ?wiatku. Niestety, drugi na li?cie 'Everlasting' rozwiewa wszelkie nadzieje melancholijnymi gotyckimi wstawkami, które rozwadniaj? energi?, rozmywaj? smutek i wprowadzaj?, czaj?c? si? tu? pod powierzchni? muzyki, nud?. Na szcz??cie, na 'Sleep of Reason' mo?na wy?apa? kilka pere?ek pokroju 'To Drown', czy zdecydowanie najbardziej wyró?niaj?cego si? 'A Soul Undone' z mocnymi, klasycznymi riffami. Dalej jest ju? niestety ró?nie, a The Eternal nie widzie? czemu ucieka w gotyckie rejony, skoro taki 'Beneath the Soil' urywa doomowymi gitarami ?eb przy samym ty?ku, a ostatni na li?cie 'Weight of Empathy' przyprawia klimatem o ciarki na plecach!
Có?, moim skromnym zdaniem na 'Sleep of Reason' pojawi?o si? zbyt du?o rozbie?no?ci. The Eternal bez dwóch zda? potrafi gra? dobry doom metal, czy posmuci? chwilami w stylu Katatonii, ale gdy do g?osu dochodz? gotyckie nalecia?o?ci, to ekipa z krainy kangurów zaczyna nudzi?. A tak, gdyby skróci? album o - z grubsza - 25 minut, to zespo?em zainteresowaliby si? s?uchacze spoza kr?gu bladych nastolatek w zwiewnych gotyckich falbankach.
'Sleep of Reason' to dobry kr??ek i na pewno o The Eternal b?d? pami?ta? na przysz?o??. Mimo to, czekam jednak na p?yt?, na której znajd? si? tylko i wy??cznie numery bliskie ci??arem i atmosfer? wy?owionym przeze mnie pere?kom. Wtedy padn? na kolana. Dzi? jednak pozostan? przy wygodnej (i jak?e nienaturalnej dla cz?ekokszta?tnych) pozycji siedz?cej... HYPERLINK "http://www.alternative-zine.com/reviews.php?lang=he"
Source: Ad Noctum (Germany)
URL: http://www.adnoctum.de/reviews/reviews_theeternal2.html
Reviewer: gorerotted
Rating: NA
Date of Access: September 2005
The Eternal aus dem fernen Australien melden sich mit ihrem zweiten Album "Sleep Of Reason" nach gut einem Jahr wieder zurück. Ihr Debüt, das im vergangenen Jahr auf riesige Zustimmung gestoßen ist, wurde im letzten Jahr von allen großen Metalmagazinen und Co ordentlich abgefeiert und war sogar so gut, dass es drei Monate nach dem Release auf große Tourneen ging, zum Beipiel nach Hong Kong, Europa, Großbritannien und Finnland. Entsprechend groß war logischerweise auch nun der Erwartungsdruck, der auf dem sechs Jungs lastete. Scheinbar unbeeindruckt davon fingen sie schon auf laufenden Tourneen an neues Material zu schreiben, einzuspielen und zu komponieren. Obwohl zwischen dem Tourstress entstanden weiß auch das neue Album zu beeindrucken. Wie auf dem Debüt gibt es massenweise Melodien, Düster- romantische Texte und gruselige Atmosphären. Alle Gothic- und Melodic Metal Fans dürften mehr als begeistert sein. Selbst ich als Melodieverächter muss zugeben das die Jungs auf jeden Fall eine Menge Ahnung von ihrem Fach haben und sich eine menge Technoscheiß, der in solcher Musik mitschwingt, sparen. Mir ist das alles zwar ein bisschen zu langsam und schleppend aber genau solche Musik könnte ich zu schlafen oder ausruhen wunderbar hören. Wer HIM gut findet, sollte sich jetzt seine Schuhe anziehen und so schnell er kann in den Plattenladen rennen, alle anderen sollten besser zuhause bleiben.
Source: Findance (Finland)
URL: http://www.findance.com/arvostelut/arvostelu.php?theeternal_sleepofreason
Reviewer: Antti Niemelä
Rating: 7/10
Date of Access: September 2005
Australialainen The Eternal julkaisee toisen albuminsa suomalaisen Fireboxin kautta. 28. syyskuuta julkaistava Sleep Of Reason luokiteltaneen melodiseksi doom-metalliksi, mutta kivuttomasti sitä ei voi yhteen genreen luokitella. Laulaja Mark Kelsonin vokaalit kuulostavat kovin paljon Paradise Lostin Nick Holmesilta ja kun musiikillisestikaan The Eternal ei eroa merkittävästi siitä, mitä Paradise Lostkin on alku-uransa aikana edustanut, niin yhteys on ilmeinen.
Mahtipontisen Awaken, Arise -instrumentaalin jälkeen Everlasting starttaa levyn oivasti. Biisi herättää popahtavaa vetovoimaa tarttuvalla kertosäkeellään ja kevyt tausta toimii mainiosti. Biisin kohokohta on kuitenkin selkeästi c-osassa, joka viehättää erityisesti upealla piano-osuudellaan. Nimenomaan juuri oikeassa kohdassa esiin nouseva piano on myös To Drownin parasta antia. Pianoa on viljalti myös muualla levyssä, mutta se ei nouse näiden biisien tavoin yhtä innostavasti esille.
A Soul Undone etenee tehokkaiden kitarariffien saattelemana, mutta biisin parhaasta osasta vastaavat mahtipontista otetta tuovat klassiset elementit. Levyllä on mukana myös jonkin verran naisvokaaleja, mutta esimerkiksi Hollow Insidessa ne vain häiritsevät muuten varsin tunnelmallisesti soljuvaa kappaletta. The Dying Light häiriintyy myös hetkittäin kankeista naisvokaaleista. Sen sijaan levyn päättävä upea 12-minuuttinen Weight Of Empathy saa kokonaisuuteensa lisäpotkua naishyräilyistä. Levyn toinen instrumentaali on Sleep Of Reason, joka tuntuu hieman tyhjältä ilman laulua.
Everlasting on loistava biisi, joka iskee välittömästi, kun taas itse albumikokonaisuus vaatii muutaman kuuntelukerran avautuakseen. Albumiin olisi mahtunut vielä jonkinlaista lisäväriä erityisesti tunnelman saralle, mutta levyn raskas rauhallisuus miellyttää kuitenkin tällaisenaan ja kun siihen lisätään vielä huippukohdat Everlasting ja Weight Of Empathy, niin varsin kuunneltava kokonaisuus on kasassa.
Source: Schwermetall (Czech Republic)
URL: http://www.schwermetall.ch/kritiken/kritikanzeigen.php?kritiknr=1127
Reviewer: NA
Rating: 9/13
Date of Access: September 2005
Es ist eine Wohltat, die Seele baumeln zu lassen und langsam in den "Sleep of Reason" einzutauchen. Dies ist keine Kost für Berserker, sie spricht eher die Zartbesaiteten unter uns an. Spontan erinnert mich das neue Werk der Australier an Paradise Lost und deren schicksalhaften Abschied von den harten Klängen mit der Scheibe "One Second".
The Eternal gehen aber lange nicht so oberflächlich zu Werke. Behutsam spinnen sie verworrene, melancholische Songstrukturen, in denen sich ein nachdenklicher Geist leicht verlieren kann. Erst wenn Sänger Mark wie im vierten Titel "A Soul undone" zu theatralisch gefühlsbetont ins Mikrofon säuselt, wird es auch mir zu popig-kitschig. Bisweilen langweilen auch die etwas dünnen Strophenpassagen, auch wenn sie dann von gewaltigen, eingängigen Refrains abgelöst werden.
Bei einem finnischen Label unter Vertrag zu sein, hat dem Quintett von gegenüber des Erdballs den Weg zur Perfektion in Sachen Soundqualität geebnet: Bei "Sleep of Reason" hatten nur Meister ihres Fachs wie Mika Jussila (Amorphis, Therion) ihre Finger an den Reglern. Ein Grossteil meiner Wohlgesinntheit rührt daher, dass jeder Trommelschlag, jede gezupfte Saite ein klanglicher Genuss ist. So geht auch der Gesang richtig unter die Haut, ausser die Gefühlsduselei überbordet.
Vielleicht mag "Sleep of Reason" nicht wirklich in das ansonsten eher deftige Programm von Schwermetall passen. Wer aber Musik für die ein oder andere ein- oder zweisame Gelegenheit sucht und nicht auf die schweren Gitarren verzichten will, findet hier das Passende.
Source: Zware Metalen (The Netherlands)
URL: http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/4855.html
Reviewer: NA
Rating: NA
Date of Access: September 2005
Het vorige album van The Eternal (The Sombre Light of Isolation) was voor mij enigszins een teleurstelling omdat de voortzetting van Cryptal Darkness toch niet aan de verwachting kon voldoen, geen hoogtepunten, geen herkenbaarheid in de nummers.
Jammer genoeg is het nieuwe album alleen maar meer van dat. De band blijft in de richting van de gothic/doom metal gaan, behoorlijk symfonisch gehalte en een bijna vervelend en te theatrale cleane zang. Het album begint verdomd lekker met het intro Awaken, Arise, maar daarna komt de band slechts enkele momenten op een acceptabel nivo, en dan met name door lekkere gitaarriffs. Maar verder lijkt de band weinig moeite te doen om een goed stuk muziek neer te willen zetten, alles heb ik al vele malen eerder gehoord, en toen was ik er al niet dol op. Door de matige zang is de lol aan dit album al helemaal snel voorbij en zal dit album bij mij snel dienen om stof te verzamelen.
Source: Tartarean Desire (Sweden)
URL: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/theeternal_sleepofreason.html
Reviewer: Fjordi
Rating: NA
Date of Access: September 2005
Australia has not been a source of many doom acts, right now I just recall the mighty Disembowelment. The Eternal proves in that distant, enormous island there is room for depression expressed through metal music, and they certainly do it quite well. “Sleep Of Reason” is their second album. It seems it´s based on the dark painting of Spanish artist Francisco de Goya, suggestively titled “El sueño de la razón produce monstruos” (a loose translation could be “The sleep of reason breeds monsters”). Mr. Travis Smith did the cover art inspired by the aforementioned etching, and of course the results are gloomy and beautiful. One of the things I´ve enjoyed is the great balance achieved between every element of the music. Everything is on its place, the sound is crystalline and clean, friendly and ellegant, and arrangements are very worked on. Take the vocals for example, mellow and emotional; in fact Mark Kelson´s voice is the highlight of this album. However, the music never gets too aggressive and is mostly concentrated upon emotional landscapes and sensual melodies, so calling this “doom metal” isn´t very accurate perhaps.
The Eternal play metal but very clean and melodic, I´d say “emotional metal” instead of doom, certainly. Some traces of gothic metal can be seen, too. Despite this, the melodies flow without becoming cheesy. Keyboards and some female vocals help the band to create the tranquil dreamy atmosphere. Some influences could be Katatonia, The Gathering, Sentenced... Psalm-like, epic “Weight Of Empathy” has been my favourite song of the album, with that ethnic touch all along the vocal lines and guitars, it´s beautiful. Nothing more to say; if not very original, The Eternal deliver sweet, melancholic music that will please the souls willing to dive on somber waters.
Source: Friedhof Magazine (Spain)
URL: http://www.friedhof-magazine.com/criticas_detalle.php?id=545
Reviewer: Anjana
Rating: 6.5/10
Date of Access: September 2005
Desde Australia, concretamente Melbourne, nos llega The Eternal con su segundo álbum, Sleep Of Reason.
La portada del disco esta basada en uno de los grabados de la Serie de los Caprichos de Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, concretamente en el número 45, llamado “El sueño de la razón produce monstruos”.
Comenzamos el disco con una pequeña intro, totalmente instrumental, que da paso a Everlasting, un tema muy comercial. En ese estilo también tenemos a A Soul Undome, algo mas lenta en el ritmo, pero igualmente muy pegadiza.
En To Drown, cambian totalmente el ritmo, es un tema más pesado, y la voz que nos muestra Mark Kelson es más intimista.
El resto de las canciones son más lentas como pueden ser In My Skin, Beneath The Soil o The Dying Ligth.
En Sleep Of Reason, tema que da nombre al titulo del disco, nos encontramos con que es instrumental, y la canción mas corta después de la intro. Es un tema muy suave y delicado, que cuando empiezas a apreciarlo se ha terminado.
El disco lo cierra Weigth Of Emphathy, la cual dura doce minutos. Nos encontramos otro cambio de ritmo al llevado durante la mayor parte del disco. Es una canción enigmática, con algunos coros durante su duración. La canción nos lleva desde la calma hasta las explosiones de violencia y desde las profundidades surge la voz susurrante de Mark Kelson.
Durante todo el disco podemos comprobar que tienen especial importancia sobre el resto de los otros instrumentos las guitarras.
Sleep Of The Reason será lanzado internacionalmente el 28-09-2005.
Source: Chronicles of Chaos (U.S.A.)
URL: http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/
Reviewer: Pedro Azevedo
Rating: 6/10
Date of Access: September 2005
It is not a lack of talent, creativity or enthusiasm that plagues this Australian band. In my opinion, what prevents them from producing an outstanding album is instead their lack of consistency and focus over the course of a full-length. Variety can be a good thing, and the promo sheet even boasts that the album has an eclectic mix of songs; but the excessive jumble of styles doesn't sit well with me, hampering rather than enhancing my appreciation of the album.
Like its predecessor, _Sleep of Reason_ is loosely based on doom metal, but shuns the slow pace commonly associated with the genre and contains a generous pinch of pop. There are still some relatively plodding passages ("To Drown", "Beneath the Soil"), but things tend to stay sufficiently mid-paced and lightweight to be more palatable for an audience that transcends doom metal aficionados. Furthermore, the music can get rather upbeat and chorus-y at times, with melodic doom metal turning into something altogether more commercial -- and unfortunately losing much of its appeal in the process ("Hollow Inside", "In My Skin").
Judging by the slower tracks, The Eternal could have created a solid doom metal album if they had so wished. Instead, they opted for something far more ambitious; and in doing so, they failed to fulfill the potential they show on the better parts of the album. _Sleep of Reason_ has some good moments, but ultimately it is doomed to oblivion as far as I am concerned.
Source: Metal Land (France)
URL: http://www.metalland.org/index2.htm
Reviewer: NA
Rating: NA
Date of Access: NA
Firebox a eu le nez creux en faisant signer ces australiens... Le précédent opus avait été prometteur mais celui ci est encore meilleur avec un son plus adéquat et surtout un aspect mélodique hors norme. Toujours légéres mais avec de réelles qualités les compos sont toutes en finesse et en harmonie. Des passages limites accoustiques succédent à des parties ou la voix douce et chaleureuse (masculine) est appuyée par une musique qui accompagne et appui à merveille le côté mélancolique, puis viennent des parties plus "électriques" ou les guitares sont plus tranchantes, la batterie un peu plus marquée et la voix plus puissante. Tout ceci forme une entité qui se nomme "Sleep Of Reason" et qui nous a permis de passer une petite heure bien agréable.
Source: Disagreement (Luxembourg)
URL: http://www.disagreement.net/reviews/eternal_sleepofreason.html
Reviewer:
Rating: 9/10
Date of Access:
The Eternal's second album Sleep Of Reason has impressed me quite a lot. Although the five musicians are from Melbourne Australia, they sound like a European goth metal band, probably because the album was produced by the Estonian Endel Rivers (Black Majesty & Vanishing Point guitar player) and mastered by the Finnish Mika Jussila (Amorphis, Nightwish, Therion). Even if there are parallels to My Dying Bride, Anathema and Charon, The Eternal are more than just cheap clones as their mixture of doom and gothic isn't very conventional.
The sound can be described as dark gothic orientated melodic doom. This sounds very bizarre, but the music itself is very complex. The songs contain much more than just a simple riff but are full of breaks. Especially the confrontation between melodic guitars and bombastic keyboards lend the songs often a dramatic touch which succeeded best on Beneath The Soil. Some songs are less experimental and could be used as single edits because of their emotive rock sound (Everlasting, A Soul Undone, A Dream's End). More doomy are the last two tracks The Dying Light and epic twelve minute closer Weight Of Empathy.
The Eternal have recorded one of the best gothic doom metal albums I have ever heard. The music is so rich and varied that they certainly will find an audience. Let's hope for them that they will get the deserved recognition.
Source: Nocturnal Hall (Germany)
URL: http://www.nocturnalhall.com/reviews/T/theeternal_sleep_e.htm
Reviewer: The Angry Princess
Rating: 7/10
Date of Access: August 2005
Mid 2003 THE ETERNAL formed (from the ashes of renowned underground Melbourne doom band Cryptal Darkness) and received a two album deal with Firebox Records in Finland. In June 2004 The Sombre Light Of Isolation was released worldwide. THE ETERNAL’s Sleep Of Reason was recorded earlier this year. When I first read that it was a doom metal band I rolled my eyes with the thought this CD was going to suck! Well I was clearly mistaken, I enjoyed listening to it. It has a somewhat soothing effect. It’s like a movie without a picture leaving you to envision what you like. All the songs on this CD run and blend together perfectly, sit back relax and enjoy the moment.
Source: Metal Norge (Norway)
URL: http://www.metal-norge.com/?action=omtaler&ID=1339
Reviewer: Robert
Rating: 7/10
Date of Access: August 2005
Forrige gang jeg hørte The Eternal var debuten ”The Sombre Light of Isolation”. Den gang låt det veldig bra enkelte plasser, men rent helhetlig ble det rett og slett for mye, og alt for mange av låtene var rett og slett for kjedelige. Plata var langt i fra forferdelig, men det hørtes ut som bandet kunne få det til, men ikke strakk til helt.
Denne gangen har de gitt seg selv et hardt spark i baken og satt seg ned og skrevet låter som rett og slett er bedre, mer helhetlig og mer inteteressante. Resultatet har blitt ei plate som greier å holde interessen mye bedre enn nevnte debut, og dermed framstår som et mye sterkere helhetlig produkt. Bandet høres til tider veldig ut som Paradise Lost av nyere era, uten at det skjemmer kvaliteten på noen måte, spesielt må vel vokalen tåle litt sammenligning, men Paradise Lost er på ingen måte særegne med sin musikk, og The Eternal plagierer ingenting. Sammenligningen er med andre ord i positiv favør. Produksjonsmessig er det upåklagelig, rent, fint og passende. De tunge låtene trøkker, og de som ikke er fullt så tunge fungerer akkurat like fint.
Førstelåta ”Everlasting” er nok noe av det beste The Eternal har lagt på tape til dags dato. Melodisk, fengende og midt i blinken. Desverre greier de ikke å følge opp like godt. Det er nok ingenting som blir like tamt som reffreng som prøver å være fengende, men ikke er det. Beklageligvis har The Eternal en stygg uvane for å slenge på et par låter som av veldig standard struktur som vanligvis ville gjort seg best i catchy format, men som desverre faller utenfor. Som forrige gang sliter de litt med enkelte ting som låter litt ut av plass, litt for happy. Det er tid og sted for all ting, men happy-melodier tar seg sjeldent så veldig bra ut på melankolske doomy plater.
Uansett har bandet fått til en plate som er rimelig god, og hakket hvassere enn forrige gang. Jeg koser meg faktisk når jeg hører på denne, og jeg regner med den kommer til å frekventere spilleren endel framover.
Source: Walls of Fire (Germany)
URL: http://www.wallsoffire.de/Reviews/show_review.php3?kritik_id=5714
Reviewer: deadnextdoor
Rating: 3/5
Date of Access: August 2005
Das Debüt von The Eternal fand ich seinerzeit ganz okay, doch fehlte es der Mischung aus epischem Doom und schleppendem Gothic Rock doch noch zu sehr an griffigen Hooklines und mitreißenden Melodien. Jetzt haben die Australier ein neues Album am Start und starten auch den Versuch, die einzelnen Mängel von „The Sombre Light Of Isolation“ zu beheben, doch irgendwie bekommt man den Eindruck, als hätten The Eternal in der Zwischenzeit nicht viel dazu gelernt, das Material ist nämlich weder Fisch noch Fleisch. Die melancholischen Doom-Parts zum Beispiel packen einen nie so richtig, und das epische Feeling solcher Bands wie Opeth oder auch Green Carnation kommt auf „Sleep Of Reason“ nie so recht zur Geltung - dabei dürften diese Bands als Vergleich gar nicht mal so unpräzise sein, aber um deren Qualitäten zu erlangen ist es noch ein steiniger Weg. Ähnlich verhält es sich auch mit den etwas mehr rockenden Kompositionen, bei denen dann vereinzelt auch Erinnerungen an Paradise Lost zu „Draconian Times“-Zeiten wach werden, nur dass die Briten damals ein Meisterwerk abgeliefert haben, The Eternal im Jahre 2005 jedoch nicht dazu imstande sind, sich die Melodien in irgendeiner Form zu Nutzen zu machen. Es plätschert alles ziemlich belanglos am Hörer vorbei, und das Feeling für diese düstere, teils auch depressiv anmutende Musik bleibt viel zu oft auf der Strecke. So gelingt es einem auch nie so wirklich, in die Kompositionen einzutauchen, auch wenn manche Parts sehr verlockend klingen. Das Problem ist einfach, dass die Australier es versäumen, die Spannung über die gesamte Länge eines Songs aufrecht zu erhalten. So ist ein Song wie „The Dying Light“ anfangs noch richtig geil, da sich aber einfach zu wenig darin bewegt, gleicht das Interesse immer mehr einem vorzeitigen Fade Out. Versucht man hingegen, die Songs mit mehreren Elementen zu füllen wie zum Beispiel beim Symphonic-Doom-Track „Beneath The Soil“, wirkt das Ganze nicht mehr echt sondern lediglich künstlich produziert. Auch hier fehlt der band das Gespür für die richtige Mischung aus musikalischen Versatzstücken und einer mitreißenden Darbietung.
Insgesamt ist „Sleep Of Reason“ zwar kein wirklich schlechtes Album geworden, aber weil das Genre voll von überragenden Alternativen ist, und sich „Sleep Of Reason“ zur Hintergrunduntermalung weitaus besser eignet als zum intensiven Hören, würde ich einem Großteil des Kollegiums hier den Vortritt geben. Melancholiker dürfen aber natürlich trotzdem mal ein Ohr riskieren…
Source: Doom Metal (Poland)
URL: http://doom.metal.pl/index.php?p=recenzje&alf=E&id_rec=2022
Reviewer: LiLy_Ann
Rating: 10/10
Date of Access: August 2005
Zaczyna si? ostro gitarowo i ci??ko perkusyjnie. Awaken, Arise, tym razem budz? si? z marazmu, jaki ogarn?? mnie, gdy poprzednim razem us?ysza?am te s?owa z ust Marka Kelsona, na debiutanckiej p?ycie. Everlasting –
„Like ships in the night that drift away, I know you're out there, but still you fade”.
Równy utwór o charakterystycznym dla zespo?u brzmieniu. Prosta perkusja, gdzie? w tle klawisze, wyci?gni?te do przodu gitary.
„Ghosts and shadows roam my mind. Fading features, lost in time”.
Przyjemny dla ucha g?os Marka. Zdaj? sobie spraw? z tego, i? t?skni?am za the Eternal. Zw?aszcza gdy klawisze przez chwilk? wychodz? na pierwszy plan, by zaraz znikn??. Nadaj?c s?odkiego akcentu utworowi. Sam miód.
„Nothing's everlasting”.
Trzeci kawa?ek - To Drown – i ?adnej ci?g?o?ci. Gitary ci??sze, bas dudni, s?ycha?, i? Marty O`Shea ma te? si?? w drugiej stopce. Mark wyje i zawodzi
„Don't leave, Don't you ever leave, if I call”...
pro?by zatrzymuje pianino, które przejmuje pa?eczk? w b?agalnym lamencie. Gitary przyt?aczaj?, bas Jamesa Hunta wygryza si? w me ?ciany, podburza dywan na pod?odze, otwiera drzwi szafy.
Ko?ysz?cy bas, rytmiczna perkusja, przyjemne brzmienie wystrzeliwanych serii z karabinu maszynowego. To A Soul Undone. Klawisze, zabijcie mnie za me stwierdzenie, ale staj? si? troszeczk? Teatrzykowate. Z czasów Aegis. Pot??ne i patetyczne. G?osu wokalisty praktycznie nie s?ycha?. Tylko gitary… klawisze… gitary. Znów wyciszenie. Na bogów, gdyby Theatre of Tragedy tak gra?o…
„No light leads me on. Falter on a soul undone”.
Hollow Inside. Swobodnie i ciszej, uspokojenie po poprzednim uwtorze. Spokojnie pocz?tek mo?na porówna? do doomowego popu. ?piew Marka jednak w pewnym momencie staje si? oskar?ycielski. Kawa?ek niczym pok?on w stron? Cryptal Darkness.
„But if you call my name… I'll no longer fall...”,
on naprawd? ma szans? sta? si? przebojem. Ach i ta sympatyczna solóweczka. Nie wiem jak mo?e komu? nie podoba? si? Hollow Inside.
In My Skin – szepty, cichute?ki wokal. Senna piosenka o m??czy?nie, który bardzo chcia?by si? rozp?aka?.
A Dream's End – szybciej zagrany, ciekawszy… Cedz?cy g?os, dziwny akcent, jednak perkusja znów jest prosta. Wra?enie rozje?d?ania si? linii wokalnych i muzyki, a? kole w oczy. Cho? po kilku przes?uchaniach zdaje si? by? niez?? doom-popowo-gotyck? ca?o?ci?. Kolejny kawa?ek, który mo?na wrzuci? do worka z przebojami.
Beneath The Soil – mocniej, ci??ej. To co lubi? najbardziej. W sumie si? spodziewa?am, i? koledzy z The Eternal pójd? w kierunku takim, w jakim zmierza?o The Sombre Light of Isolation. Z?agodz? brzmienie, wyrzuc? gitary. Mark zacznie ?piewa? nawiedzonym g?osem. Na szcz??cie oni nazywaj? si? The Eternal, a nie Anathema. Ten utwór w?a?nie o tym przypomina.
Sleep of Reason – instrumentalny, spokojny kawa?ek. Jak sam tytu? wskazuje.
The Dying Light – kolejna ko?ysanka do kompletu. Sama gitara, cichutki wokal.
„Can't forgive myself this time. As I come crashing to the floor”.
Uderzenie mocniejsze, niczym na Eternity Anathemy.
„You are my light. Are you here? You are my light. Are you near?”.
Naprawd? fajny kawa?ek. Tym razem chc? skrzycze? Anathem? – tak si? w?a?nie gra! Tak si? powinno gra?!
„I need you here with me tonight… To cover me with your dying light”.
Weight Of Empathy – zastanawiaj?ce, dlaczego najlepszy utwór na tej p?ycie jest na jej ko?cu. Cicha apokalipsa wed?ug the Eternal. Wokal kobiecy w tle przywodzi na my?l skojarzenia z Anj? Ortodox chórkuj?c? w Mordorze, Ofr? Haz? z Temple of Love Sisters of Mercy. Ca?o?? to jakby ci??sze Pink Floyd, albo kopiuj?ca je Anathema. Mimo tego, nie mam wra?enia wtórno?ci.
P?yta ta jest o wiele ci??sza ni? poprzedniczka. Niestety przy tym mniej przebojowa, jednak równiejsza. Jak dla mnie jest najlepsza p?yt? doomow? pocz?tku tegorocznej jesieni.
Source: Xtreem Music (Spain)
URL: http://www.xtreemmusic.org/
Reviewer: Iñaki Albuerne
Rating: 9/10
Date of Access: August 2005
Segundo album completo de THE ETERNAL una banda de Doom Metal Melodico y melancolico, melodias que se te enganchan a la primera escucha, tristes, nostalgicas y melancolicas y a la vez con mucha oscuridad melodica. Temas la mayoria muy lentos ( por no decir todos ), las voces del cantante susurran al oido mientras una voces femeninas que son musica celestial te mandaran directamente al mundo de los sueños mas profundos y eternos. La tematica del album es para quitarse el sombrero, el mundo onirico de los sueños, por eso este disco desprende una sensacion magica escuche quien lo escuche, la portada basada tambien en una obra relacionada en el mundo de los sueños como es la del pintor español Francisco de Goya y su ""El sueño de la razon produce monstruos"", una excelente portada de las de tener en camiseta de lo buena que es, y hace el disco mas redondo aun. Admito que soy fan sobretodo de los sonidos mas extremos de la musica, pero este disco tambien tiene su lado extremo, llamalo melancolia, llamalo tristeza, la verdad es que da igual, cuando algo es bueno no importa que estilo sea, y estos THE ETERNAL me han gustado de una manera Sobrenatural ( y nunca mejor dicho ), ya se que es odioso las comparaciones pero para haceros una idea (solo una idea ), pues en la onda mas Nostalgica de KATATONIA, TIAMAT, MY DYING BRIDE, etc..., sobre todo de los primeros, pero solo para que os hagais una idea, un disco perfecto para escuchar con la pareja, solos en casa con una vela y en la oscuridad.
Source: Metal Fan (The Netherlands)
URL: http://www.metalfan.nl/reviews.php?id=2039
Reviewer: Kristof
Rating: 78/100
Date of Access: August 2005
Ik heb onlangs enkele boeken gelezen over het fascinerende land Australië. Daarin stonden enkele hypothesen over het feit dat weinig tot niets van de nieuwe Australische cultuur het buitenland bereikt. Hypothesen over de mentaliteit, de sfeer en eigenzinnigheid ten spijt, de reden dat wij eigenlijk zo weinig weten over dit land is omdat het zo verschrikkelijk ver weg ligt. Omdat uit te vogelen moet je geen gerespecteerde professor zijn. In Australië heb je veel goede bands maar als die nooit de oversteek naar Europa wagen, zullen ze nooit doorbreken. The Eternal wil echt zijn muziek verspreiden en zodoende waren ze na het uitbrengen van het degelijke debuut ‘The Sombre Light of Isolation’ al in Nederland en België te bewonderen in het voorprogramma van The Propechy. Toen maakten ze op mij vooral een erg gemotiveerde indruk maar het materiaal van de eersteling was net nog niet goed genoeg.
Het nieuwe werk ligt nog steeds in het melancholische gothrock hoekje met hier en daar een doomtoets. In tegenstelling tot wat mensen denken is The Eternal zeker geen doomband maar emotionele conflicten staan centraal in de muziek. In vergelijking met het standaard debuut zitten de elf nieuwelingen een stuk beter in elkaar, is er meer variëteit te bespeuren en is het koele resultaat met een gaaf neerslachtig sausje besmeerd. Origineel en grensverleggend is het allesbehalve maar professioneel en aangenaam des te meer.
In tegenstelling tot de laatste Sentenced, het platte Him-geluid en de saaie depressieve gothicdoom uit Scandinavië, is de songwriting op ‘Sleep Of Reason’ een stuk vernuftiger en luistert heerlijk weg. Dat de band en het uitstekende label Firebox het meent blijkt wel uit de uitstekende productie (afgemixt in Finnvox) en het knappe artwork van niemand minder dan Travis Smith (Opeth, Nevermore, Anathema,..) is de kers op de taart. Laat die tweede Europese trip er maar aankomen!
Source: Heavy World Online (Germany)
URL: http://www.heavyworldonline.de/
Reviewer: Menschenfeind
Rating: 8/10
Date of Access:
Es sollte ein Standardformular für Firebox Releases geben. Zu 95% kriegen die Bands und deren Alben eine Wertung von 7 Punkten oder mehr. Beachtlich, wenn man bedenkt, wie viel Schrott heutzutage gesignt wird. Aber gut, es gibt kein Standardformular und so muss ich die Kritik zur neuen Scheibe von THE ETERNAL mühevoll frei formulieren.
Tja, wo fangen wir da an? Zuerst sei gesagt, dass sich die Band kein Stück von ihrem bewährten Stil entfernt hat. Noch immer schmeicheln düster melancholische Gothic Klänge mit starken Melodien mit einem Hauch Doom meine Gehörgänge. Auch das hohe Maß an Abwechslung, welches bereits das Vorgängerwerk zu Tage legte, wurde beibehalten. Eher lockere Songs wie „Everlasting“ sind wieder ebenso vertreten wie balladeske Töne („Hollow Inside“) und melancholische Ohrwürmer („A Dream’s End“). Auch die Stimme von Mark Kelson erreicht die bereits bekannte Klasse. Sie ist düster sentimental, melancholisch zerbrechlich, und doch mit einem Funken Aggressivität ausgestattet.
Im Vergleich zum Vorgänger ist mir ausserdem besonders positiv aufgefallen, dass der Zugang zur Musik wesentlich einfacher ausgefallen ist. „The Sombre Light Of Isolation“ war stellenweise noch recht sperrig, „Sleep Of Reason“ klingt dagegen sehr einladend ohne jedoch dabei poppig zu wirken. Eine konsequente Weiterentwicklung also die in Zukunft auf mehr hoffen lässt. Die Könige der Düsternis sind THE ETERNAL nämlich noch nicht, bei ihrer derzeitigen Entwicklung ist es aber nur noch ein Katzensprung bis zum Thron entfernt.
Source: Pavillon 666 (France)
URL: http://www.pavillon666.com/groupe.php?groupe=838
Reviewer: Angellore
Rating: 8.5/10
Date of Access: August 2005
The Eternal est un jeune groupe australien formé en 2003, qui revient avec son second album "Sleep Of Reason". Cet album se présente comme étant le digne successeur de leur premier album "The Somber Light Of Desolation", qui avait eu un certain succès, permettant même à ce jeune groupe de se produire sur scène dans le monde entier ! On l'aura donc compris : avec ce nouvel album, The Eternal se doit de confirmer tout le bien que l'on pense d'eux et que le succès de leur premier opus n'était pas un coup d'éclat sans suite.
Tout d'abord la pochette de l'album nous présente un homme avachi sur une table, la tête entre les bras, tourmenté par une véritable nuée de corbeaux, ce qui nous laisse présager d'un album noir et froid. Ensuite, à l'intérieur du livret, on tombe sur une photo du groupe : 5 gros métalleux balaises et barbus ! Bref je m'attendais, déçue, à une formation bourrine de plus se déchargeant de son surplus de testostérone en nous hurlant dans les oreilles ! D'ailleurs la première chanson "Awaken, Arise" semble confirmer mes premières craintes : cette introduction instrumentale extrêmement lourde, constituée d'une rythmique basse/batterie très grave et lente, imprégnée d'une ambiance de film d'horreur créée par le synthé, laisse imaginer l'arrivée imminente d'un mastodonte death métal. Dès lors je m'agrippe aux bras de mon fauteuil, essayant de me préparer psychologiquement au choc à venir !
Le moment tant attendu arrive enfin… et là c'est la véritable surprise, puisque débute "Everlasting", la deuxième chanson de l'album, qui rompt avec l'ambiance de l'introduction, tout en restant dans une certaine continuité par rapport à celle-ci. Bref, je mets quelques secondes à me remettre de mon erreur, preuve supplémentaire qu'il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences.
Je jette donc une attention redoublée à la musique qui m'est proposée par The Eternal et je dois dire que je suis rapidement charmée.
"Everlasting" est portée par une ligne de guitare mélodieuse et intelligemment construite. De plus le chant clair de Mark Kelson apporte un intérêt supplémentaire en se mariant parfaitement à l'ambiance créée par les instruments. En outre, cette chanson comporte un passage lourd contrebalancé par une certaine légèreté créée par le synthé.
Cependant cette première vraie chanson n'est qu'un aperçu de la richesse des compositions de ce "Sleep Of Reason". En effet, chaque chanson possède sa propre ambiance assez différente des autres. Certaines auront une teinte un peu plus heavy et lourde (mais sans sombrer dans des abîmes de lourdeur, grâce notamment au chant clair et à a guitare), comme par exemple sur "A Soul Undone". D'autres frôlent même avec des ballades ou tout du moins vers des ambiances plus calmes comme "Hollow Inside".
En conclusion, on peut affirmer que ce deuxième album de The Eternal est une véritable réussite confirmant les espoirs engendrés suite à leur premier album. Je dirais même qu'il va au-delà faisant progresser ce jeune groupe vers la sphère des grands groupes métal.
Source: www.pavillon666.com (France)
Issue: 27.08.05
Reviewer: Angellore
Rating: 8.5/10
babble fish translation: The Eternal is a young Australian group formed in 2003, which returns with its second album "Sleep Of Reason". This album is presented as being the worthy successor of their first album "The Somber Light Of Desolation", which had had a certain success, making it possible even this young group to occur on scene in the whole world! It will thus have been included/understood: with this new album, The Eternal must confirm all it although one thinks of them and that the success of their first opus was not a blow of glare without continuation. First of all the small pocket of the album introduces to us a man softened on a table, the head between the arms, tormented by a true cloud of corbels, which lets to us predict of a black and cold album. Then, inside the booklet, one falls on a photograph from the group: 5 large métalleux hefty men and bearded! In short I expected, disappointed, with a formation bourrine moreover discharging from his surplus of testosterone by howling us in the ears! Moreover the first song "Awaken, Arise" seems to confirm my first fears: this extremely heavy instrumental introduction, made up of a rhythmic very serious and slow basse/battery, impregnated of a film environment of horror created by synthé, lets imagine the imminent arrival of a mastodon death metal. Consequently I clutch myself with the arms of my armchair, trying psychologically to prepare me with the shock to come! The so much awaited moment arrives finally... and there it is the true surprise, since "Everlasting begins", the second song of the album, which breaks with the environment of the introduction, while remaining in a certain continuity compared to this one.
In short, I spend a few seconds to give me from my error, proof additional which one should not proud for appearances. I thus throw an attention redoubled with the music which is proposed to me by The Eternal and I must say that I am quickly charmed. "Everlasting" is carried by a line of mélodieuse guitar and intelligently built. Moreover the clear song of Mark Kelson brings an additional interest while marrying perfectly to the environment created by the instruments.
Moreover, this song comprises a heavy passage counterbalanced by a certain lightness created by synthé. However this first true song is only one outline of the richness of the compositions of this "Sleep Of Reason". Indeed, each song has its own environment rather different from the others. Some will have a colour a little more heavy and door (but without sinking in abysses of heaviness, thanks in particular to the clear song and A guitar), such as for example on "A Soul Undone". Others pass very close to even with ballades or all at least worms of calmer environments like "Hollow Inside". In conclusion, one can affirm that this second album of The Eternal is a true success confirming the hopes generated following their first album. I would even say that it goes beyond making progress this young group towards the sphere of the great metal groups.
Source: www.shadowshire.de (Germany)
Issue: 27.08.05
Reviewer: Lake
Rating: 8/10
babble fish translation: Also the Australians of The Eternal were not completely dormant in the past year and did not rest themselves not on their Lorbeeren, which brought in its debut ' The Sombre Light OF isolation ' for them (9/10 on shadowshire.de), completely out. Those had to accept volume some changes in the LINE UP, but whether young from "down Under" now with "Sleep the OF can tie Reason" to successes of the debut it will have itself to only still show, even if Mastermind mika Jussila had its fingers in the play with mastern of the disk. Who does not know the volume, it is said to that that one drives something on the Doom Metal track, but that is actually already everything. The Eternal weave very skillfully partly atmospheric, partly rockige sounds with elements of the Dooms to a nevertheless quite unusual mixture together, which partly addresses dragging along, partly melancholisch the listener. That one will experience Everlasting ", which is introduced before by the short, but very melodischen Intro very early in the Opener" ". One does to a large extent without salient Growls, but front man Mark of Kelson can convince one with his voice nevertheless fully. The Songs is very varied and durchdacht, almost very fastidiously laid out all. The Ballade "Hollow Inside" threatens to slip even into the Gothrock corner. Which one in addition very fast notices - much of the Doom Metal times regarding the debut did not remain unfortunately. Only some Songs like "Beneath The Soil" or the traeumerische, there-sliding "Weight OF Empathy" still remind of this time. Otherwise one withdrew oneself very much into the melancholische environment to be lost best example would be for this "The Dying Light", a really very calm, sad Song, or "Sleep OF Reason", a nearly already balladenartige continuation, which can get along with few Synthieuntermalungen, without thereby at atmosphere. Much did not remain unfortunately of the doomigen light, which still radiated the "Sombre Light OF isolation" in the last year. One drifts momentarily very into the corner of the lost souls off, but that does not have to be a reason to listen to "Sleep OF Reason" not even. Comparisons to pull falls there very heavily, therefore one should risk calmly an ear, if one stands on melancholische, partly however nevertheless quite rockige sounds.
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