It has been over 20 years since Danish gothic/doom band Blazing Eternity last gave us a full-length album. But now they’re back and they’ve brought with them seven tunes of doomy gothic metal. So, the question before us is, was it worth the wait?
To start with, everything here sounds great. The production is clear, but natural, with every instrument receiving its due sonic space. The musicianship is all on point. The vocals are well done, primarily utilizing growled vocals, but also giving us some haunting, clean singing. With all that in place, then, what should we say about the songs?
I am pleased to report that the songwriting here does not disappoint. Blazing Eternity gives us seven songs of appealing doomy gothic metal that are sure to appeal to genre fans. Thankfully, Blazing Eternity manages to navigate the tricky balance of atmosphere and dynamics. That is, A Certain End of Everything is positively dripping with a lovely melancholy atmosphere—and fans of this style would have it no other way. But at the same time, the band doesn’t forget to write songs, but gives us compelling guitar riffs and leads, musical and vocal hooks, and enough dynamics in songwriting that the album never bores. I also appreciate that the band keeps the record to a manageable length.
The record kicks off with “One Thousand Lights.” Here we get a lovely, echoing guitar opening as the song builds. The guitar lines here are quality gothic metal. The vocals are harsh, but still hooky. The songwriting here is dynamic and the atmosphere is strong. The song ends at a slower pace, and by that point the song is already implanted in your brain. I would classify “One Thousand Lights” as an album highlight.
“The Secrets of White” comes next with a soft intro before kicking in heavy, but slow. The sound here is quite haunting. The guitar lines are memorable and mesmerizing. The harsh vocals are, once again, well done, and we also get some haunting clean vocals at spots in the background. The song ebbs and flows in a dynamic fashion.
An appealing guitar line begins the title track before the song begins in earnest. There is a nice use here of rhythmic changes, which adds dynamics to the tune. The guitar parts are quite hypnotic, and there are more haunting background vocals. The guitar lines in this song are simply lovely.
“The Ghosts of Another Broken Life” kicks off immediately. The guitar work here is hypnotically gothic. There are sufficient rhythmic changes in this song to keep it engaging. The guitar provides us with lovely melodies and the there are also haunting clean background vocals underneath the harsh vocals that create an excellent blend of sounds.
Sporting compelling guitar lines is “No Bringer of Light.” Here we get some soft passages that contribute to the atmosphere, lovely guitar melodies blended with harsh vocals, and subtle drumming that is very well done. All in all, this song is a dynamic track.
“Your Mountains Will Drown Again” is a bit peppier, while still being gothic and haunting. I enjoy the guitar lines here, as well as the blend of harsh and clean vocals. This song is memorable and, because of its slightly increased tempo, helps the album’s pacing not feel monotonous.
An appealingly forceful opening kicks off “The Bells.” There are peppier parts here, as well, although the song stays firmly within the doomy gothic sound Blazing Eternity has mastered. The track is dynamically written, and sports some excellent guitar riffs that will hook the listener. The back half of the song is slower and ends the song—and the album—appropriately.
All in all, it’s hard to find much fault with A Certain End of Everything. While Blazing Eternity made fans wait for many years for another full-length album, it’s hard to see any fans of gothic and/or doom metal being disappointed with this release. The atmosphere is strong, but so are the songs. Make sure you check it out.
Curtis’ Rating 8.5/10
