Release Date September 18th, 2026
Format CD/Vinyl
Genre Progressive/Doom Metal
Origin Australia, Finland
The Eternal is an Australian and Finnish metal band featuring Mark Kelson on vocals and guitars, Richie Poate on lead guitar, Niclas Etelävuori on bass and Jan Rechberger on drums. The lineup connects musicians based in Melbourne and Helsinki, with Etelävuori and Rechberger also known for their work with Amorphis. Following “Skinwalker” (2024) and the “Celestial” EP (2026), the band returns with its eighth full length album, “Obscured Horizons”, released through Reigning Phoenix Music. The combination of musicians from different backgrounds continues to shape the band’s approach to progressive doom metal, gothic atmosphere and melodic songwriting.
“Obscured Horizons” contains nine tracks across 47 minutes, combining slow, heavy guitar work with melodic leads, atmospheric keyboards and a rhythm section that supports the album’s gradual shifts in intensity. The production by Jan Rechberger and Mark Kelson gives the guitars and vocals a defined place in the mix, allowing the darker arrangements to retain their detail. Tracks such as “Existing To Expire” and “Harmony Breaks” bring the heavier side forward, while “Liminality” develops the progressive elements through extended arrangements and changing dynamics. The title track and “Awaken” continue the album’s exploration of disillusionment, fractured identity and the struggle to recover personal truth.
The lyrics follow a path through deception, emotional collapse and eventual renewal, giving the material a consistent thematic direction. The songwriting relies on atmosphere, melodic development and measured changes in pace, placing the album firmly within progressive doom metal. At times, the recurring approach to melancholy and gradual progression limits the impact of individual tracks, leaving some sections less distinctive than their surrounding material. “Obscured Horizons” offers a carefully arranged album for listeners drawn to dark, melodic metal with progressive structures, although its extended pacing and recurring emotional tone can make the experience less engaging across the full running time.
|8.0
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