The Eternal – Kartika

Releasedate: 17-11-2008; Label: Firebox Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

The Australian band The Eternal has been formed in 2003. After two albums and extensive touring through their own country and also in Europe, they went home working on their third release “Kartika”.

The band makes dark, ambient music. A touch of doom, but still a spark of hope comes through the vocals. Their previous album was from 2005, three years of waiting for “Kartika” brings up high expectations. The band has some steady instrumental skeleton for their songs. Even though it all might be bit more stronger than an average doom band, they kept their dramatic side. Their sound firstly reminded me to the Italian band Demetra Sine Die.

The album start quite dominant with “Silence” and leads us in 12 songs, more than 1 hour of music, to different sorts of highlights. As their visions of the world might not be the most clear from the very first time you listen to the songs, you will need the booklet to read the lyrics. There you see the artwork that surely is an extension of the atmosphere of the music.

A couple of guest musicians are involved with “Kartika”. For example the Russian guest vocalist Emily Saaen adds a lot of drama to the already emotional songs. On title song “Kartika” the band used besides the vocals of Emily, also a mandolin and hammered dulcimer. Also, Mark keelson (vocalist) plays bass on this song.

As point of critic I have to mention that the songs might have had a little more variance, as if you are listening the album all in once, the songs start to sound a bit too much of the same if you do no t put specific attention to listening. Not an album to put on as a background sound. As if you keep that point away, you can surely say that The Eternal brought us some nice music with “Kartika”. Those who are into this genre will surely find it a great addition for their collection, but “Kartika” surely has potential to rise above it.

Line Up:
Mark Kelson – Guitars/Vocals
Chris Stevenson – Keyboards
Dave Langlands – Bass
Marty O’Shea – Drums
Terry Vainoras – Guitar

Links:
The Eternal MySpace
The Eternal Official