Whenever you hear about a new band, you always want to start with something small, something that allows you to dip into the pool of knowledge before diving in. As I was looking through the promo list, The Eternal caught my eye, given that their genre was described to me as “progressive gothic-doom metal.” Intrigued, I decided to jump into their newest EP, Celestial.

On first listen, Celestial reveals itself as a slow burner, particularly evident in the second track “Celestial Veil.” It features a gradual introduction that simmers to a somber and nostalgic mood. Mark Kelson’s vocals contribute to this emotional weight, sounding forlorn and lost amidst some fantastic orchestration. A new listener will quickly notice the vocals; while they may seem polished, they are profoundly poignant, allowing you to feel every word, even without fully grasping the context. This leads to “It All Ends,” where the standout feature is the exceptional guitar work in the latter half. Though the vocals remain forlorn and majestic – I am such a sucker for these vocals – the musicianship is top-notch. The orchestration and melody invite you to sing along, making it impossible not to move your head, especially with the key changes. Coupled with the choir towards the end, it mirrors what Katatonia achieved on “Wind of No Change”: a celebration of their legacy. However, the EP’s highlight is “Casting Down Shadows,” a track that transcends the doom and gloom of its predecessors, infusing a Middle Eastern flair that adds aggression. The drums drive the piece: full, syncopated, and maintaining a consistent melody. This song prominently features keyboards, stepping into the spotlight more than in the rest of the EP. It serves as a powerful conclusion to the core themes that The Eternal explores on Celestial, and I fully embrace it.

Now, Celestial packs a lot of themes and musical flourishes within its 28-minute runtime. Two of its tracks surpass the six-minute mark, which is intriguing to consider. Typically, on EPs, a band attempts to formulate ideas or introduce concepts they want to explore before a new album. It’s clear that “Casting Down Shadows” hints at a new direction, or at the very least, adds more progressive elements to their music. If they sound anything like, say, Myrath, that would be an expansion of their sonic palette. This is further illustrated by “Everlasting MMXXVI,” a re-recording of a track from their 2005 album, Sleep of Reason. For some reason, the orchestration of this track reminded me of Eldritch’s Cracksleep, a power metal album known for its emotional vocals. While I am not expecting the band to move in that direction, that re-recording has a distinct sound that sets it apart from the four main tracks on the EP. Perhaps that’s something to anticipate when their new album is eventually released.

Celestial is a fantastic EP, signaling exciting developments on the horizon for The Eternal. It showcases the band’s willingness to experiment with their established sound while presenting great new ideas. I was previously unaware of this band’s journey, and now I feel compelled to revisit their albums to fully appreciate their evolution over the past 20 years. Kudos!

— Hera

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Celestial is available now on Reigning Phoenix Music. For more information on The Eternal, visit their official Facebook and Instagram pages.