Israeli Eternal Gray's first ever release is their debut album 'Kindless'. Forming the band from split-up Betrayal, the guys aren't any newcomers. And it can be heard.

Eternal Gray's music is death metal. One can hear influences from death metal scenes around the world. There's Morbid Angel type madness, there's Bolt Thrower style militarism, there's thrash metal elements and touch of melancholy among other familiar things. However, I must say to Eternal Gray's credit, that their metal sounds unique. Maybe it's that distortionless guitar utilized throughtout the album. Mid-paced double kick drum attack is the main thing here, but at times the band sink into sludgy paced grooves or blast it out. Drumming is equally important part of the music as anything else. Fantastic drumming with varying beats is totally ear-catching. I must mention groovy cymbal work, too. Guitar riffs are heavy or melodic, even though nothing sweet. Guitar solos are good and what's really important, memorable. It's quite a surprise, that there's Mid-Eastern guitar only on 'The Unbelievers Die'. Eternal Gray are simply bloody headbangable (!), but also dark. Songs are quite similar in all, but they all advance nicely. After a few spins listener will begin to find out all the differences, so this won't strike imminently. There's some touches with keyboards, but only minor ones.

Dark lyrics deal with reality, be it religions or human feelings, or both mixed. Vocals are usual death metal growl, but definitely good and fitting into the music. Guest vocals are provided by Hypocrisy's Peter Tägtgren (those bloodcurdling shrieking ones) and Destruction's Schmier (clean yet aggressive), who was recording at The Abyss studios, Sweden, too. Tommy Tägtgren created excellent sound for 'Kindless': clear yet pounding and not clinical at all. Booklet is badly printed, but it doesn't matter much here, as it has good graphics and layout, plus the lyrics are printed.

Just try 'Kindless', if mid-paced death metal is your stuff. I liked this at first, and now much more when I've found all the different nuances in songs and forgot how one-sided this sounded during first few spins. Really solid debut, I must say.

Rating: 8- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/11/2004 20:45