Review THE ETERNAL “Obscured Horizons”

The Eternal, the Finnish-Australian collaboration, return with a new album, Obscured Horizons. Just a few months after releasing their new EP Celestial, the band is already back with a full-length record, once again putting themselves on the radar of fans who like their metal on the melancholic side.

The Eternal is the brainchild of Mark Kelson, but the arrival of Jan Rechberger and Niclas Eteläuori, both of Amorphis, gave the band a significant boost. Sure, having two musicians from a better-known band on board doesn’t hurt. At the same time, however, The Eternal have refined their sound, and their deal with Reigning Phoenix Music gives them a label capable of extending their reach considerably.

With Obscured Horizons, the four-piece delivers nine new tracks while continuing to follow its established musical direction. Each song carries a certain weight, like a gray veil settling over the human soul. Yet lighter melodic passages, such as those found on “Harmony Breaks,” occasionally cut through the darkness like a few rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

The Eternal also know how to build expansive sonic landscapes that showcase the band’s full creative range. Just listen to the impressive “I’ve Seen the Dream.” Beautiful melodies blend with melancholy and solid musicianship, creating a song that draws you in with its sheer atmosphere. For a few minutes, everyday life seems to disappear – and honestly, who couldn’t use that every now and then?

The underlying sadness running through many of these songs becomes apparent right from the opener, “Lament for the Hollow.” It’s a heavier track that sets the tone immediately, making it clear that this is not going to be a colorful collection of cheerful melodies. As the title suggests, there’s something mournful about “Lament for the Hollow,” a quality that also surfaces on “Existing to Expire.” The latter is considerably faster and more animated, but it never breaks the album’s overall mood.

Doom-laden and haunting are probably the best ways to describe the dark and unsettling “Liminality.” This dramatic track unfolds over more than seven minutes, gradually revealing its many layers. Progressive structures also come into play, and at times, Dream Theater comes to mind. The Eternal simply have the technical skills and musical toolkit to make complex arrangements feel natural rather than forced.

The title track, “Obscured Horizons,” brings a pulsating energy to the album and should appeal to fans of Amorphis as well. “Awaken” closes the record on a deeply emotional note, once again bringing Dream Theater to mind. Throughout the album, The Eternal construct elegant sonic frameworks that are varied, atmospheric, and emotionally charged without ever sacrificing their energy.

With Obscured Horizons, The Eternal have delivered a strong album that follows naturally from their previous work while marking another important step in the band’s development. Melancholic, atmospheric, progressive, and still firmly rooted in metal, this is a record that deserves some time – and a few good spins.