Review THE ETERNAL “Skinwalker”

Sometimes there are bands and albums that catch your attention and you think, “Wow. These guys sound pretty cool. Who are they?” And then you find out that the band was formed many years ago and you are listening to album number seven. This is what happened to me when I listened to The Eternal’s latest output.

“Skinwalker” is the aforementioned 7th release by the Australian/Finnish band and it is the first album to be released via Reigning Phoenix Music. Nine songs and a running time of 60 minutes make for great music and there is a lot of Scandinavian melancholy embedded in it.

The Eternal was originally formed in Melbourne, Australia with a rather unstable line-up. Main man Richie Poate and singer/guitarist Mark Kelson have been the constant factor of The Eternal and a major change took place in the early 2020s. Jan Rechberger (Amorphis) joined the band and a year later Niclas Etelävuori, also known from his time in Amorphis, completed the current line up. All of a sudden, the band became a cross-continental outfit and the new album certainly benefited from this.

The Eternal start their new album in a brave manner. Putting a ten-minute epic in pole position isn’t the usual approach, but it works well for “Skinwalker”, as the song paves the way for the entire album. Progressive structures, bigger soundscapes and a cinematic vibe are the spices that make the start of the album a great experience.

“Deathlike Silence” is next on the track list. Clocking in at just over four minutes, the song is much more to the point. Melodic and with great hooks the songs blossom right away and both tracks provide the musical cornerstones.

“Skinwalker” sounds more Finnish than Australian, if I can put it that way. This might have something to do with more Amorphis members making guest appearances (Tomi Jousten and Santeri Kallio), but also Kreator guitarist Sami Yii-Sirniö contributes to the strength of this album.

The Eternal are very fond of longer songs, as “The Iconclast” also exceeds the ten-minute mark and most of the other tracks aren’t much shorter. What makes the album an exciting release is the versatility built in. The Eternal manage to create a mesmerising atmosphere and there are constant twists and turns that open the door to another musical world. Songs like “The Iconclast” are constructed in such a way that you’re always curious about what’s going to happen next. This shows excellent songwriting.

The last three tracks of the album fit perfectly into the previously mentioned context of the album. Well forged, the songs spread a dark and gloomy vibe, with the title track being another highlight of the album.

“Skinwalker” is a really good longplayer and I wonder why I didn’t have this band on my radar before. Anyway. The start is made and diving into this album is a moment of pleasure for metalheads who enjoy a gothic-fuelled dark vibe. “Skinwalker” is certainly one of my unexpected highlights this year.