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SEVERED ANGEL “When Eternity Ends”
SEVERED ANGEL “When Eternity Ends”
By Colonel Angus
There has been a huge influx of great music that has escaped my ears in recent years. With all the bands and all the releases, it is hard to keep up with albums from older, well-established bands, let alone newer groups just starting out. SEVERED ANGEL is not really starting out but they have only been around since 2022 yet they have put out, counting “When Eternity Ends”, three full length disks in that short time span. Talk about prolific...this east coast outfit has the work ethics of those 70s bands that releases a record every year. “When Eternity Ends” is their third album but first for a label as their previous efforts were self-released.
A cinematic intro call “The Fall of Rain” starts off the disk but the first proper song is a great melodic power metal track called “Through the Eyes of Time”. Right off the bat, you are hit with symphonic elements but melody reigns supreme throughout not only this tune but the whole disk. There are a few twists and turns along the way to give it a prog feel too but they keep things focused. Some prog metal can be more about the playing ability than the song itself yet SEVERED ANGEL are able to walk that fine line of showing their talent without the song suffering. “Cry Out to the World” has an intro that reminds me of latter day IRON MAIDEN but unlike MAIDEN, theirs is short and sweet and doesn’t go on too long. Like the previous material, there is plenty of melody but this one sheds the symphonic elements and puts forth a slightly heavier edge to the tune.
For the third (fourth if you count the intro) track, the band go full force heavy metal bordering on power metal. This fast rocker packs a huge punch in just under three minutes and it also stands out as one of the heaviest song on the record. The symphonic elements return on “Like Lightning” which combines a bit of “Shed” with the first song to create this cool symphonically heavy moment on “When Eternity Ends”.
The beginning sounds of “Wolf in Sheep's Clothing” have this 80s movie vibe before it morphs into a melodic metal tune that would not have been out of place in the 80s. It’s a cool vibe that is added to the track that reminds me of that great decade or metal music. “The Demon's Alive” starts off with cinematic keyboards but quickly turns into a heavy tune that includes vocals that border on the “cookie monster” style. Thankfully, those vocals are used sparingly but do a good job of conveying the “demon” aspect of subject matter. The next tune “In My Skin” starts off with this cool SABBATH riff and vocally shifts away from the higher register and contains a more guttural/modern delivery. While I like the track, it doesn’t really fit the rest of the material and sticks out as the odd man out.
Things return to more familiar territory with “One Life to Live” and the title track. The former is a more proggy workout in the DREAM THEATER vein while the latter has an epic ballad feel. Both pieces show off the best elements of SEVERED ANGEL and gives the listener some variety while still feeling like a cohesive work. Aside from “In My Skin” which is good but doesn’t quite fit, “When Eternity Ends” has a consistent sound yet veers off here and there to give the listener some variety.
I’m so glad that this album has made it onto my desk because I would be missing out on some great music. If you like prog metal. power metal, symphonic metal, or just plain heavy metal, this is a record you need in your collection. Don’t let eternity end without getting yourself a copy.
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