Metalcatto
I usually don’t give much context about the bands we review at MER, but this time is different—and not just because it’s a Swedish band again. Eternal Darkness – Eternal Darkness is a debut that took 35 years to get done. I wasn’t even born when the first idea for it started emerging! And yet, I find out the band has already split. Dead before being properly born—well, it can’t get more Death Metal than that. Let’s get to it!
The easiest way to describe Eternal Darkness is imagining what would happen if you took ’90s Finnish Death/Doom and gave it a decent production. This thing screams Rippikoulu. It’s dense, crushing, and dirty—not nearly as polished as Vainaja. It’s classic Death/Doom, and to be fair, that specific flavor doesn’t get much love these days. It’s great to hear the potential that many ’90s bands from the north could’ve reached but didn’t due to tight budgets and muddy tape sound.
Aside from that buzzing black wall of sound in the guitar tone, we’ve got drums that almost feel anachronistic. It’s been a while since a Death Metal band left this much space for cymbal work. The tracks mostly stay short and dynamic, which plays to Eternal Darkness’ strengths. If these guys had gone for eight-minute tracks, the album would’ve dragged painfully. I mean, that much static can become literal torture if stretched too long (Guantanamo-level, no kidding).
So let me cut to the chase and punch you in the private parts with some snobbish critique. Eternal Darkness is reviving an old sound and, while it does spark curiosity, it’s still a sound that’s been explored thoroughly before. On a more specific note, the last few tracks lean harder into the Doom elements, which costs the album some pacing. But if you’re the type who enjoys brushing up against Drone territory—without totally sucking (because pure Drone sucks harder than a festival toilet!)—then yeah, carry on.
Eternal Darkness clearly shows, and even embraces, the personal struggle of its creators. You feel those years of ups and downs baked into the sound. That message is loud and clear. So if you could never get into old Nordic Death/Doom because you’re weak—sorry, I mean because the rancid production turned you off—then this is your shot to experience a strange Metal style that feels authentic and newly unearthed. We can never have enough of those.
Label: Pulverised Records
Release date: 18 July, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/EternalDarknessSwe
Country: Sweden
Score: I refuse to score something with so much real pain behind it!
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