The other writers at MER Industries will have you believing that I’m all about Power Metal and old-fashioned Prog Metal, despite evidence like this and this to prove otherwise. However, I’ll admit it’s fun to joke about those styles. That said, sometimes a band comes along that makes me question my prejudices and encourages me to be more open-minded. Such is the case with Severed Angel’s When Eternity Ends. An album that promises traditional Prog Metal without making me feel like I’m betraying my Metalhead roots—but does it deliver? Stay with me!
When Eternity Ends is a far more accessible take on Prog Metal than the average offering. Yes, there’s a substantial amount of instrumental wankery, but the melodic themes dominate here. It’s clear that Severed Angel builds their songs around an interesting riff and develops each track from a central idea. This is a strange approach for Prog Metal, a genre infamous for its “riff salad” compositions, but it’s intriguing nonetheless. There’s less going on overall, which allows the groove to shine through—something I never thought I’d say about an album with Power/Prog tendencies, especially one that doesn’t suck.
The album also shows a good sense of timing. The tracks aren’t overly long or egotistically structured (no endless monologues about how deep everything is). There’s still a strong sense of entertainment here, largely thanks to the vocals, which jump between different styles and ideas while staying on the more “commercial” side (though let’s be real, nothing in Metal is truly commercial). That said, I suspect some elements of When Eternity Ends might raise a few eyebrows.
Let’s address the obvious: the production on When Eternity Ends is… particular, to say the least. I’m not entirely sold on how everything fits together. At times, it feels like each instrument was recorded in a different room—which might be true, but it’s not something you want to notice in the final product. Then there are the vocals, which I personally enjoy, but I can see how someone might take issue with their rougher moments. Ironically, they shine brightest in their more mellow passages. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but for future albums: more cheese, please.
To prove all my fellow writers wrong—as any self-respecting tyrant should—I approached this melodic adventure with as little prejudice as possible. I ran out of Prog jokes quickly, since this album doesn’t play by the usual rules. That said, I’ll leave you with two thoughts: one, When Eternity Ends was fun despite its production quirks, and two, I’ll be that obnoxious nerd who points out that if eternity ends, then it wasn’t really eternity to begin with—making the title a bit of an oxymoron.
Label: No Life ‘Til Metal Records
Release date: 28 March, 2025
Website: https://severedangel.bandcamp.com/album/when-eternity-ends
Country: USA
Score: 3.3/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 