The Eternal - Obscured Horizons (2026)

Unleashing waves of melancholy through “Obscured Horizons”, International outfit The Eternal returns with their eight full-length release. While the main members hail from Australia, the band also features Jan Rechberger (Amorphis) and Niclas Etelävuori (ex-Amorphis), both from Finland. Delivering nine tracks of highly emotional music, this release brings back some of the good old days of Gothic Metal bands like To/Die/For, mixed in with some of Katatonia’s mopiness, and the band’s own craftiness, creating a very effective and engaging release.

Opening with the dreamy “LAment for the Hollow”, we get a hearty mix of heavy guitar riffs, alongside a pulsating bass guitar line and crafty atmospherics. Mark Kelson’s mellow vocals perfectly carry the melancholy of this opener track and the transition into more Progressive-ish pieces like “Existing to Expire” and its catchiness, or the Evergrey-esque “Colours Fade”. One thing for sure, the album's vibe is highly intoxicating thanks to a mixture of atmosphere and catchiness.

For those looking for additional moodiness, “I’ve Seen The Dream” is a very sultry piece that could be considered a Power-ballad. We particularly enjoyed the additional heaviness of “Liminality”, a dark and somber piece with excellent guitar work and some soaring vocal melodies, creating a masterful contrast, while unleashing some killer guitar leads. While not fully Gothic Metal, the band manages to incorporate Progressive and dark Metal into the mix, creating memorable songs like “Obscured Horizons”, and “Yesterday’s Gone”.

Closing with the very dramatic and cathartic “Awaken”, The Eternal have managed to deliver a modern sounding release that pays homage to the past while further refining and expanding their sound. With no filler songs, “Obscured Horizons” is another masterful release from this outfit that will be thoroughly enjoyed by fans and occasional listeners alike. If you like something dark, well crafted, melancholic and melodic, but without harsh vocals, this is as good as it is going to get in 2026.

Rating: 98/100