There are shades of Blood Incantation around this second album from Belgium melo-death band Ethereal Darkness, although instead of the more trippy aspects, they replace it with one ear firmly on later era Pink Floyd. This makes for a rather interesting mesh of pitch heavy death metal along with moments where the melody threatens to overwhelm you, such is the power of the music within.
Seven years since their debut and a lot has changed in the world of music although nothing really moves far within death doom tropes. From the offset, an epic riff signals the start and it’s all double kick drums, growled vocals, and the aforementioned guitars. So far, all so death doom, but before too long the guitar is tailing off into the ether as synths take over. Clean vocals take over and it’s at this point you know this album is not going to be as straightforward as you expected.
An album this weighty needs a concept, and lyrical concerns are based around grief, loss, and what it is to be human. On top of the growled and clean vocals are also some rather blackened screeches and the emotions of the tracks are driven through these to portray the varying moments of personal feelings. It’s an album on a par with Marianas Rest for putting you through the wringer.
That said, those deep emotions aside, the music on these six tracks is more than enough to counterbalance this. Majestic, roaring, quiet…it’s all here and all serves to build a stunning picture. It’s a revelatory journey that requires sitting through in one go for the true full impact, although it has to be said that each track is a single piece of work in itself.
An album to be experienced, from a band who this reviewer knew absolutely nothing about previously. It goes to show that there are so many gems out there waiting to be discovered. Echoes will hopefully find its way into more and more homes and record collections as it’s an album that any self respecting fan of heavy music needs to hear. A stunning piece of work.
