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REVIEW: Eternal, The - Sleep Of Reason
Firebox Records, 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.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Awaken, Arise |
| 2. Everlasting |
| 3. To Drown |
| 4. A Soul Undone |
| 5. Hollow Inside |
| 6. In My Skin |
| 7. A Dream´s End |
| 8. Beneath The Soil |
| 9. Sleep Of Reason |
| 10. Weight Of Empathy |
: 58.46
| Buy other Eternal, The albums |
