Pulling off a multi-continental band dynamic is notoriously tricky, especially when your home bases are literally on opposite sides of the planet. Melbourne and Helsinki aren't exactly an easy commute. Yet Australian/Finnish dark metal collective The Eternal make that staggering geographical divide feel completely seamless.
Anchored by the Australian founding nucleus of Mark Kelson (vocals, guitars) and Richie Poate (lead guitar), alongside the powerhouse Finnish rhythm section of bassist Niclas Etelävuori (ex-Amorphis, Flat Earth) and drummer Jan Rechberger (Amorphis), this crew has spent the last few years operating in a rich creative vein. Arriving on Reigning Phoenix Music as the follow-up to 2024’s widely praised Skinwalker and their recent Celestial EP, Obscured Horizons is their eighth full-length album and easily their most cinematic, textured, and emotionally heavy offering yet.
What immediately stands out across these nine tracks is how naturally The Eternal bridge classic gothic melancholia, crushing doom weight, and progressive metal sophistication. In lesser hands, blending the weeping sorrow of My Dying Bride or Paradise Lost with Finnish atmospheric majesty and the melodic sweep of progressive rock can turn into an over-engineered soup.
What immediately stands out across these nine tracks is how naturally The Eternal bridge classic gothic melancholia, crushing doom weight, and progressive metal sophistication. In lesser hands, blending the weeping sorrow of My Dying Bride or Paradise Lost with Finnish atmospheric majesty and the melodic sweep of progressive rock can turn into an over-engineered soup.
Here, however, Kelson and Rechberger (who co-produced the record) have struck gold with the sonic mix: the guitars crunch with immense physical density, the low end is warm and massive, and Kelson’s vocals are front and centre, dripping with genuine, heartfelt gravitas.
The record opens in grand fashion with Lament For The Hollow. A slow-burning, melancholic build gives way to thunderous rhythm work from Rechberger and Etelävuori before Kelson’s voice soars into a towering chorus.
The record opens in grand fashion with Lament For The Hollow. A slow-burning, melancholic build gives way to thunderous rhythm work from Rechberger and Etelävuori before Kelson’s voice soars into a towering chorus.
Rather than surrendering entirely to bleak nihilism, the album sets its philosophical stalls early: confronting grief, fractured identity, and mental fog, but searching desperately for light on the other side. That defiance carries straight into Existing To Expire, a punchier, driving number packed with sharp guitar harmonies from Poate that evoke classic Finnish melodic metal without losing the band’s distinctive Australian gothic DNA.
The sequencing across the first half is exceptional. Colours Fade leans into sweeping, sorrowful melodies before Harmony Breaks takes the dynamic range up a notch. It’s got an infectious, bittersweet hook that burrows into the skull on the very first pass, contrasted by heavy, chugging riffs that hit with genuine room-shaking weight. Meanwhile, I've Seen The Dream serves up lush, progressive layers that bridge dark rock restraint with sudden bursts of atmospheric power.
Where the record truly enters elite territory, however, is on the sprawling B-side. Clocking in at seven minutes, Liminality is an absolute tour de force. It drifts patiently through atmospheric, keyboard-laced verses and delicate clean guitars before detonating into an expansive, progressive doom crescendo that feels tailor-made for closing your eyes and getting completely lost in.
The sequencing across the first half is exceptional. Colours Fade leans into sweeping, sorrowful melodies before Harmony Breaks takes the dynamic range up a notch. It’s got an infectious, bittersweet hook that burrows into the skull on the very first pass, contrasted by heavy, chugging riffs that hit with genuine room-shaking weight. Meanwhile, I've Seen The Dream serves up lush, progressive layers that bridge dark rock restraint with sudden bursts of atmospheric power.
Where the record truly enters elite territory, however, is on the sprawling B-side. Clocking in at seven minutes, Liminality is an absolute tour de force. It drifts patiently through atmospheric, keyboard-laced verses and delicate clean guitars before detonating into an expansive, progressive doom crescendo that feels tailor-made for closing your eyes and getting completely lost in.
It flows effortlessly into the imposing title track, Obscured Horizons, which stands as arguably the defining track of the entire release. It condenses everything The Eternal excel at into five magnificent minutes: soaring vocal lines, razor-sharp melodic leads, and an irresistible rhythmic groove.
Down the back stretch, Yesterday's Gone catches you completely off guard with a punchy, technical opening that carries an unmistakable whiff of early Images And Words-era Dream Theater, before settling into a brooding, dark prog anthem.
Down the back stretch, Yesterday's Gone catches you completely off guard with a punchy, technical opening that carries an unmistakable whiff of early Images And Words-era Dream Theater, before settling into a brooding, dark prog anthem.
Closing out with the six-minute epic Awaken, the band brings the emotional journey to a triumphant, cathartic conclusion. There’s a palpable sense of renewal here, the clouds parting after a long, gruelling storm.
Obscured Horizons is a mature, beautifully crafted record that proves The Eternal are operating at the absolute peak of their powers. By balancing heavy doom-laden crunch with gorgeous progressive melody and sheer emotional honesty, they’ve delivered a dark metal masterclass that will stay on the turntable for a very long time. 9/10
Crystal Eyes - Thunder God (Massacre Records) [Matt Bladen]
For over 30 years Crystal Eyes have been delivering fist in the air power metal storght from the heart of Sweden. Thunder God is their ninth studio album and it's got all the elements of their sound you'd want from this band who have carved out their own niche over 30 years.
There's classic heavy metal of We Came, We Saw, We Conquered, some glam on Kids Of Rock N Roll, rampaging power metal on Follow The Storm and a few Maiden gallops courtesy of The Battle Will Be Won, it's a record with a lot of riffs driving the heavy metal anthems such as the the epic sounding Remembrance.
Mikael Dahl the voice and guitar and talisman of Crystal Eyes, laying down the melodic grooves on Metal Bound, celebrating the genre he's been so dedicated to since 1992 while a track such as A Silent Farewell allows them to bring a flair for the dramatic as Dahl really shows off his vocals here against a Blind Guardian-esque folk background.
With Thunder God, Crystal Eyes keep true to their Swedish heavy metal history, swords drawn high and Valhalla in sight, it's got a sense of the epic and lots of traditional heavy metal power. 8/10
Embryectomy – Vitriolic Baptism (Unique Leader Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]
The third full-length release from Greek slamming death metallers Embryectomy comes crashing in, titled Vitriolic Baptism, and listening to this album- yes you will feel like you’ve been dropped into a vat of pure unfiltered vitriol. Slam fans who do not recognise this band outright may recognise them from collaborations with Peelingflesh, .357 Homicide, Hacked Up and Slamskies, so their credentials in the scene check out.
The album opens with the melodic interlude Progeny Shredder, lulling us into a false sense of peace, before blasting into Ecumenical Lobotomy, where their drummer, Jake Gamble, clearly showcases his previous experience drumming for .357 Homicide, which does make the song feel like it could belong to either band. It is not the most rapid song, but it is heavy and crushing, before ending with an adapted Mortal Kombat sample.
Cranioclastic Infanticide and Psychoneurotic Hecatomb keep this slower paced tempo, but the lack of speed is compensated for by the razor-sharp guitar progressions and cymbal heavy drumming to keep up the hateful, heavy atmosphere.
Now Embryectomy pick up the tempo with more rapid songs, with the title track having the gnarliest breakdown of the album, before Chainsaw Symphysiotomy revs up like the titular chainsaw, with Marinas Tountas ripping our eardrums away with a stunning bass and guitar performance.
Newborn Martyrdom ends with a symphonic piano section that immediately seems glaringly out of place, but the disjoint actually adds to the disconcerting atmosphere.
By the time we reach Carbonized Genesis, we are introduced to an Evil Dead sample, immediately capturing the heart of this horror movie fan, while Kyriakos Destounis screams his vitriol down the microphone.
Overall, this is a very solid slam release, not offering anything particularly new to the scene but taken on it’s own merit it is very much worth a listen. 7/10
Cardinals Folly - Let The Posers Fall (Cruz Del Sur Music) [Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof]
Here we are with the brand-new, fresh and vibrant release from Cardinals Folly, Let The Posers Fall!
Obscured Horizons is a mature, beautifully crafted record that proves The Eternal are operating at the absolute peak of their powers. By balancing heavy doom-laden crunch with gorgeous progressive melody and sheer emotional honesty, they’ve delivered a dark metal masterclass that will stay on the turntable for a very long time. 9/10
Crystal Eyes - Thunder God (Massacre Records) [Matt Bladen]
For over 30 years Crystal Eyes have been delivering fist in the air power metal storght from the heart of Sweden. Thunder God is their ninth studio album and it's got all the elements of their sound you'd want from this band who have carved out their own niche over 30 years.
There's classic heavy metal of We Came, We Saw, We Conquered, some glam on Kids Of Rock N Roll, rampaging power metal on Follow The Storm and a few Maiden gallops courtesy of The Battle Will Be Won, it's a record with a lot of riffs driving the heavy metal anthems such as the the epic sounding Remembrance.
Mikael Dahl the voice and guitar and talisman of Crystal Eyes, laying down the melodic grooves on Metal Bound, celebrating the genre he's been so dedicated to since 1992 while a track such as A Silent Farewell allows them to bring a flair for the dramatic as Dahl really shows off his vocals here against a Blind Guardian-esque folk background.
With Thunder God, Crystal Eyes keep true to their Swedish heavy metal history, swords drawn high and Valhalla in sight, it's got a sense of the epic and lots of traditional heavy metal power. 8/10
Embryectomy – Vitriolic Baptism (Unique Leader Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]
The third full-length release from Greek slamming death metallers Embryectomy comes crashing in, titled Vitriolic Baptism, and listening to this album- yes you will feel like you’ve been dropped into a vat of pure unfiltered vitriol. Slam fans who do not recognise this band outright may recognise them from collaborations with Peelingflesh, .357 Homicide, Hacked Up and Slamskies, so their credentials in the scene check out.
The album opens with the melodic interlude Progeny Shredder, lulling us into a false sense of peace, before blasting into Ecumenical Lobotomy, where their drummer, Jake Gamble, clearly showcases his previous experience drumming for .357 Homicide, which does make the song feel like it could belong to either band. It is not the most rapid song, but it is heavy and crushing, before ending with an adapted Mortal Kombat sample.
Cranioclastic Infanticide and Psychoneurotic Hecatomb keep this slower paced tempo, but the lack of speed is compensated for by the razor-sharp guitar progressions and cymbal heavy drumming to keep up the hateful, heavy atmosphere.
Now Embryectomy pick up the tempo with more rapid songs, with the title track having the gnarliest breakdown of the album, before Chainsaw Symphysiotomy revs up like the titular chainsaw, with Marinas Tountas ripping our eardrums away with a stunning bass and guitar performance.
Newborn Martyrdom ends with a symphonic piano section that immediately seems glaringly out of place, but the disjoint actually adds to the disconcerting atmosphere.
By the time we reach Carbonized Genesis, we are introduced to an Evil Dead sample, immediately capturing the heart of this horror movie fan, while Kyriakos Destounis screams his vitriol down the microphone.
Overall, this is a very solid slam release, not offering anything particularly new to the scene but taken on it’s own merit it is very much worth a listen. 7/10
Cardinals Folly - Let The Posers Fall (Cruz Del Sur Music) [Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof]
Here we are with the brand-new, fresh and vibrant release from Cardinals Folly, Let The Posers Fall!
The Finnish trio proudly pays homage to the classic heavy metal sounds of the 1980s and 1990s, drawing inspiration from bands such as Iced Earth, Grave Digger, Helloween, Candlemass, and Iron Maiden. The result is an album that feels both nostalgic and sincere, offering a refreshing dose of old-school heavy metal.
The first thing that catches the eye is the album artwork. Resembling a hand-drawn vintage movie poster, complete with elegant gothic lettering, it perfectly reflects the music within. From the outset, the band makes it clear that their goal is to deliver pure entertainment for fans of traditional heavy metal and doom metal, and for the most part, they succeed.
Lyrics in most songs are interesting, the trio takes inspiration from famous murders and world mythology. If there is one aspect that occasionally holds the album back, it is the vocals. At times, Mikko's voice seems pushed unnecessarily high, resulting in a somewhat strained and twangy delivery. Interestingly, whenever he sings in a lower register, the songs flow much more naturally and his performance becomes considerably stronger.
The album opens with House Of The Lords, an atmospheric introduction driven by commanding marching drums and prominent electric guitars that immediately establish the record's heavy-metal credentials. This leads into Hitch Hike, an honest and enjoyable old-school metal track that sounds as if it emerged straight from the crypt.
The album opens with House Of The Lords, an atmospheric introduction driven by commanding marching drums and prominent electric guitars that immediately establish the record's heavy-metal credentials. This leads into Hitch Hike, an honest and enjoyable old-school metal track that sounds as if it emerged straight from the crypt.
Track three, Let The Posers Fall!, is a classic heavy metal anthem featuring galloping guitar riffs, technical drumming, memorable solos, and dynamic vocal shifts between low and high registers. It captures the spirit of the genre while remaining energetic and engaging.
The record continues with New York Ripper, which begins with a compelling minute-long introduction before launching into heavy doom-laden riffs. Its lyrics explore the intriguing concept of "What if Jack the Ripper had terrorised New York instead of London?"
Next comes I Am The Zodiac, another song centred around murder and mystery. Built on a backbone of heavy guitars, prominent bass lines, and deliberately paced drumming, the track creates a dark atmosphere and concludes with an especially satisfying finale.
Track six, Luchador, is my personal favourite on the album. Opening with a slow and ominous introduction, it blends doom, heavy metal and sludge influences into one powerful composition. The lyrics, inspired by Aztec mythology and culture, add another layer of intrigue to an already captivating track.]
On Your Stallions Are Burning Tonight, the guitars take centre stage. The riff work feels empowering and energetic, while the drums remain impressively clear throughout. The vocals also shine here, benefiting greatly from a lower register that allows for excellent deep, growling interchanges.
Cultist Highway follows with an even stronger doom-metal flavour. Addressing all us heathens, the song combines crushing guitars with an interesting contrast between growled passages and more operatic vocal sections, creating one of the album's most distinctive moments.The final two tracks provide a fitting conclusion to the journey.
Chiusura Invernale is a brief acoustic interlude that offers a moment of reflection before Providence closes the record in epic fashion. As the ultimate outro track, it effectively brings together the album's heavy and doom-laden atmosphere.
With Let The Posers Fall, Cardinals Folly continue to build momentum and further establish their identity within the traditional heavy metal and doom underground. Despite some vocal choices that occasionally feel overstretched, the album delivers strong songwriting, memorable riffs, and an unmistakable love for classic metal traditions. 7/10
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