Aeternam – ‘Heir of the Rising Sun’ (2022)
Rating: 8/10
Release: 2 September 2022
Label: Independent
Just a few hundred miles from where I sit penning this review is a band who takes power/symphonic/folk metal to a whole new level. The band I am talking about is Aeternam. I came across this band back in 2017 and found the “Ruins of Empire” unique in the sense that it had a historical theme to it. Some bands have tried this and failed others succeed and Aeternam is one of them, due to their approach. First of all, their album art and packaging is phenomenal, first class. Second the sound! Each song is not merely written; it is composed with depth and thought around each note and each word in the lyrics. The theme for “Heir of the Rising Sun” revolves around a historical scenario involving Constantinople. Aeternam incorporates chunky death metal riffs, tempos that rise and fall, engrossing the listener pulling them into the clear growls of Achraf Loudly who will then switch to totally clean vocals soaring the music to additional symphonic levels, reminiscent of old Opeth. Antoine Guertin doesn’t disappoint on drums, and Mathieu Roy-Lortie and Hubert Gonthier Blouin are the newcomers on lead guiter and bass. But bass on this album is done by Christian Pacaud. Tracks “Beneath the Nightfall” begins with a bombastic intro, tempo changes and tremolo picking. The operatic background vocal round the song out and brings it to a more epic level. “Nova Roma” brings some Middle Eastern song structures, which always sparks my interest to see how bands use this in metal. “Where the River Bends” doesn’t disappoint, starting off slow and doomy, quickly rising to an epic and symphonic level. “Heir of the Rising Sun” is for fans of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septicflesh, and Dimmu Borgir.The only fault I find with this release is the production value, at times it seems lacking, which is sad because it could be so much more if mixed appropriately. There is a wealth of opportunity here if the right sound engineer comes along and knows how to record and mix epic and symphonic metal. Overall, I find the release unique and beautifully written, composed well and very listenable. It will certainly be one of my top releases from Aeternam.
Tracklist
- Osman’s Dream
- Beneath the Nightfall
- Irene
- Nova Roma
- Kasifi’s Verses
- Where the River Bends
- The Treacherous Hunt
- Akhatist Hymn
- The Fall of Constantinople