Review : Eternity's End - Unyielding by Metal Gods TV

Via Metal Gods TV : "Eternity’s End are a power/speed metal band from Germany formed in 2014 by guitarist and songwriter Christian Muenzner. The bands debut album ‘The Fire Within’ was released in 2016. Proceeding to record a second album, Eternity’s End recruited a second guitarist, becoming a six piece outfit. The new album ‘Unyielding’ harks back to the glorious days of power metal evolution with bands such as Helloween, Running Wild and Gamma Ray, with screeching guitars, screaming vocals and fast paced foot on the monitor style catchy sing a long able choruses.

‘Unyielding’ is a barn storming and furiously aggressive rampage of high velocity power/speed metal. The duel guitar attack is savage, as Eternity’s End rocket through ten songs in fifty one minutes, hitting the ground in full flight with ‘Into Timeless Realms’. Phenomenal pace hits very hard as ‘Into Timeless Realms’ screams along at high velocity, invoking vigorous head banging from the moment it begins. The power metal scene in Germany has been a stronghold since the early eighties and with the likes of Eternity’s End, will continue to be for many years to come.

‘Into Timeless Realms’ is one of the best opening songs off an album I have heard for ages, pricking the ears up, raising the hairs on the arms, sending a tingle down the spine and pumping adrenaline like it’s going out of fashion. The breathless opening doesn’t relent either as ‘Cyclopean Force’ takes off with the energy and urgency of a jet fighter off to war. Heavier than ‘Into Timeless Realms’, ‘Cyclopean Force’ is a typhoon fuelled rampage of devastation, that will leave you gasping for breath. As a teenager growing up during the eighties power metal explosion, this is an offering that has gone straight for my heart, and after only two songs, am already in love with it. The title song ‘Unyielding’ drops a gear and marches on at a mid tempo heavy rock pace. Majestic and anthemic in style as it strides forward, ‘Unyielding’ stands astride the borders of the hard rock, heavy metal and power metal genres.

Gloriously fast paced heavy metal takes the album to the next level of brilliance, with the outstanding ‘Blood Brothers (The Oath)’. The fierce aggressiveness delivered throughout ‘Blood Brothers (The Oath)’ keeps the pace very high, with heads banging hard everywhere, neck muscles stretching to new limits, as fans of high velocity power metal all around the world raise their fists high and punch the air in sheer delight. What a song… ‘Dreaming Of Cimmerian Shadows’ brings a touch of the symphonic metal genre to the album, with prominent keyboards and sublime guitar solos keeping the listeners attention fully hooked. Oh, and maybe I should mention too that ‘Dreaming Of Cimmerian Shadows’ is an instrumental. With its mellow intro, ‘Horizonless’ gives off the impression of impending balladry, building to a climactic crescendo as, yes, here comes the obligatory modern day power metal album ballad inclusion. Although heavy and somewhat a little moody and dark, ‘Horizonless’ is a majestic march of heaviness, keeping just half a step away from planting both feet in ballad territory.

Blistering speed returns to the album in emphatic style with ‘Under Crimson Moonlight’. High velocity and highly energetic, ‘Under Crimson Moonlight’ screams on by at a speed that may just outrun the Japanese bullet train. With a title that sounds like it should belong on a death metal album, ‘Necromantic Worship’ is a furiously fast paced, lightning quick, heavy metal masterpiece. Keyboards, guitars and vocals all scream and screech as ‘Necromantic Worship’ scorches by at break neck speed, leaving burn marks in the ground. A devastating combination of power and speed, is quickly followed by ‘Triumphant Ascent’. With hints at the sound of fellow countrymen Running Wild, ‘Triumphant Ascent’ is melodic power metal at its finest. Catchy and infectious with a sing a long able chorus, ‘Triumphant Ascent’ stands tall in the glory and epic sub genres of the power metal genre. Bringing the album to a close is the six minute epic ‘Beyond The Gates Of Salvation’. An aggressive barrage of heavy hitting heavy metal, ‘Beyond The Gates Of Salvation’ is fast paced, foot on the monitor style power metal at its finest, and is a glorious end to a glorious album."

Overall, fast paced and furious power metal, Eternity’s End deliver an infectious and catchy album of head banging addictiveness. 10/10

Originally written by Iron Matthew for MetalGodsTV.com

News : Eternity's End - Unyielding ranked #8 in DeadRhetoric's top 12 albums of 2019

Via DeadRhetoric : "Another strong year for the metal genre for this scribe, variety continuing to be the driving theme of my top twelve albums. Doom/epic metal entries probably lead the pack this year – and not necessarily from one specific region of the world, as Canada, Pennsylvania, and Germany all have bands with entries on my list. There were mesmerizing albums as well from veteran musicians/artists who aren’t resting on their past discography, but willing to challenge themselves to draw out the best music and songwriting that they can muster for their legions of followers.

It’s been an awesome year for the doom/epic metal genre – so many bands releasing great product this year, bringing the spotlight to a style that maybe never really has been in vogue but always churns along for that slow, steady headbang. And many veterans continuing to up their game in an age where physical record sales are at a premium with all the internet/streaming options at the disposal of the consumers. Once again, certain positions at this point in the year may differ from their initial rating when first absorbing said release – as certain records gain better perspective with deeper exposure and time. Let’s get right to the lists and thoughts, shall we?

Even in my late 40’s, I’m still finding that there are quality releases in everything from traditional/power/ progressive genres as there are in extreme/fringe outlets – and that’s what keeps metal alive and well throughout the world. Here are my picks for the twelve best records for 2019 – a mix of the most spun material and the sheer quality contained within.

12. Exhorder – Mourn the Southern Skies (Nuclear Blast) After a few false starts and twenty-eight years, Exhorder returns for their third album Mourn the Southern Skies. Their swinging groove/thrash metal combinations possess potency thanks to a deeper understanding of proper recording techniques in the modern world – allowing the material to kick ass and take names later. Bluesy in spots, these gentlemen still have plenty to say to the world – and they deliver just as much live as they did back in their 80’s/early 90’s heydays.

11. Elvenking – Reader of the Runes – Divination (AFM Records) Folk/power metal masters Elvenking continue to refine and hone their craft on a fairly consistent release schedule. Reader of the Runes – Divination starts a new storyline, keeping the proceedings catchy on “Silverseal” while Celtic and cultural for “Eternal Eleanor” and grandiose during the almost eleven-minute title cut. It’s like Skyclad and Blind Guardian chose to collide in the name of a twin salvo of glory.

10. Atlantean Kodex – The Course of Empire (Ván Records) Epic heavy metal with more doom overtones, German act Atlantean Kodex may have taken six years between records, but The Course of Empire as the third full-length is well worth the wait. Triumphant in a Bathory-Viking meets Manowar/ Candlemass montage – the mountain-top vocals glide effortlessly over the sturdy riffs and marching tempos. The songs average eight-ten minutes but never feel overloaded, and you feel the unity as one between band and audience at every turn.

9. RAM – The Throne Within (Metal Blade) Another European entity who embrace a style and sound from the 80’s, but endear themselves because of their willingness to stretch parameters without forsaking their core values to the heavy metal movement. The Throne Within brings a lot of Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, and Accept-like aspects to the table – a ballad like “You All Leave” surely teetering on the edge of The Scorpions in terms of emotional magnitude. Confidence and execution win the listener over every time.

8. Eternity’s End – Unyielding (Ram It Down Records) The second album from this international band, Unyielding pushes neoclassical power/progressive metal to that next level of intensity and sophistication. Ex-Hibiria vocalist Iuri Sanson is a perfect addition, allowing the guitarists Christian Münzner and Phil Tougas the chance to expand horizons with speed, bombast, and precision. Probably will change any pre-conceived notions you may have regarding this style.

7. Allegaeon – Apoptosis (Metal Blade) Colorado’s Allegaeon are at the top of their game when it comes to technical, melodic death metal for Apoptosis. Aware of that see-saw balance between intricacy and catchy passages on both the music and vocal fronts, these musicians create songs of a multi-dimensional capacity that you can latch onto something new and fresh every time you press play. Proof that both styles can sustain value for the consumer and produce a kinetic, frantic energy release.

6. Smoulder – Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring (Cruz del Sur Music) Canadian epic doom metal, Smoulder revel in a love of bands like Cirith Ungol, Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, and Gates of Slumber among others for this full-length. Hooks that pound for days, mystical vocal melodies, and that perfect old school sounding production encapsulates a satisfying playback experience each and every time the six songs air.

5. Queensrÿche – The Verdict (Century Media) The third post-Geoff Tate album finds the band digging through some of their archives for riffs and ideas previously rejected beyond creating some new material. It’s evident that this Northwest progressive metal unit feel a new lease on life to travel where they wish to go – delivering songs that possess a lot of that 80’s charm that put them on the map in the first place. “Man the Machine” has a bit of that early The Warning atmosphere, while “Bent” explores those outer universe textures and powerhouse melodies we’ve come to expect over the years.

4. Soilwork – Verkligheten (Nuclear Blast) Bands like Soilwork aren’t supposed to age as well playing a melodic death/groove thrash combination that often slows down or isn’t as inspired eleven studio records into their career. Verkligheten contains the dynamic blasting/harmony contrasts, catchy roars/smooth melodies from Speed Strid, and anticipation for the next movement based on songwriting versatility. The mid-tempo chug for “Full Moon Shoals” and the feverish melodic death sway of “Needles and Kin” prove Soilwork have plenty of creative fuel left in the tank.

3. Idle Hands – Mana (Eisenwald) Combining gothic rock of the 80’s/90’s in terms of guitar tones and vocal melodies with a traditional metal backbone, Idle Hands is receiving a lot of praise from critics and fans alike for their sound. Mana isn’t anything overtly new, but the combination of The Cure/Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears vocally over a sound that has a lot of pure metal mechanics separates them from the pack. It’s hard not to sing/clap along to winners like “Nightfall” and “Give Me to the Night” – headlining theater tours can’t be far behind if the quality continues to be this high.

2. Crypt Sermon – The Ruins of Fading Light (Dark Descent Records) Epic doom metal with nods to numerous darker or traditional influences, Pennsylvania’s Crypt Sermon may have taken four years to write and record their second full-length The Ruins of Fading Light – but it’s a stormer. Deeper dives in guitar play, drumming outside the doom box, and the edge of your seat vocals from Brooks Wilson make this a front to back exhilarating aural odyssey. “Our Reverend’s Hands” and “Christ Is Dead” are two of many to throw devil’s horns up in Candlemass/Solitude Aeturnus-like reverence.

1. Arch/Matheos – Winter Ethereal (Metal Blade) Veteran musicians put out a majestic record that is progressive metal brilliance. John Arch possesses a unique delivery that still shines decades after his start in Fates Warning, and Jim Matheos knows how to set him up in all the right places through his musical framework. Be it straightforward and powerful or epic and alluring, Winter Ethereal is a thoughtful record to be admired, devoured, and dissected well after 2019."

Originally written by Matt Coe for https://deadrhetoric.com/

Review : Serocs - The Phobos/Deimos Suite by Metal Archives

Via Metal Archives : "Last year Serocs presented “The Phobos/Deimos Suite” on Everlasting Spew Records, which was on my top 10 2018 brutal technical death metal records. Serocs is an international effort of different musicians hailing from countries like Canada, United States and Mexico. Antonio Freyre being the principal mastermind and songwriting force of the band since the demo “Homogenous Dissimilation”.

After listening to “The Phobos/Deimos Suite” several times I noticed different aspects that I have to highlight.

First, the songs are very memorable, sometimes you listen to bands from the same subgenre (brutal technical death metal) and just after you finish you can´t remember any patter or hook and that´s because of the song writing or production. The musicians in this recording offer their technique in pro of the songwriting, instead of showing off endless solos and “look at my 8-string guitar, bro!” bullshit. In fact, there are no solos during this album, just smart and flowy riffs that make the experience very memorable and dynamic. For example, take songs like “Revenants”, “Nihilus” and “SCP-106” as pieces of noteworthy value for their brutal/intricate structure. On the vocal department, you can hear lows and highs but with cavernous characteristics that increase the whole auditive experience and back up the instrumentation smoothly.

Second, talking about production, it is very organic, it feels very human like; it is not over produced and the instrumentation does not show off unnecessary excesses of technique. The production keeps a certain dirtiness in their sound it is not totally pristine, even though all instruments sound clearly. That fact separates this band from the bunch, sometimes in this death metal subgenre the music sounds very robotic, and I don´t like robots farting in my death metal, I like it organic and old school. In this recording all departments are covered, drums, vocals, bass and guitars; a perfect example is the starting track “Being”, where you can here how the bass punches without sounding fake. There is even an instrumental track almost in the middle of the record called “Lethe” and t does not ruin the experience; it actually makes of an awesome sci-fi like transition to the last part of the album.

Last but not least, I consider the death metal scene tend to be tiring due to the proliferation of bands that rely on gory, sci-fi or cosmic horror imagery. Those bands tend to be very predictable from the very beginning with dismembered bodies or monumental and unspeakable horrors in their cd covers and lyrics. Serocs breaks the mold and takes a more psychological/oneiric approach. For instance, “The Phobos/Deimos Suite” cd cover portraits a decayed human figure with the face melting that allows your imagination to speculate of what´s to come and I like that fact. Lyrics on the other hand, fluctuate from delusions to inner psychological problems that lead to insanity.

In order to synthetize what I said about “The Phobos/Deimos Suite”, I can assure that the wheel has not being re invented in the brutal technical death metal sound, instead, it has been refreshed and revitalized. For instance, take the last track in the album, “Deimos”, it is an epic piece by itself even though is the longest song but it is very memorable and you end up begging for more! Don´t look here for the unnecessary intricate and overproduced robot sound that bands like ArchSpire or Brain Drill offer, you will only find organic and old school dynamics more similar to the ones of old Cryptopsy and Suffocation. So, I leave on your consideration, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and this is mine about Seroc´s latest album. Go and find out by yourself." 100/100 Originally written by FaithAsshole for metal-archives.com