Before I get too deep into this review I need to make you readers aware of a few facts that may, in some eyes, appear to make this review a bit one-sided and not as objective as it needs to be.  I think most of you are fully aware that this blog highlights music that I am personally interested in and on occasion I like to share newer music that may appeal to some of you “tune junkies” as well, so regardless you’re always going to get a positive slant from me.  So in Eternal Void’s case:  1) they are a local metal band from the Cincinnati/Dayton area not too far from me; and 2) my son Ian Remley is the bassist in the band.  But…  take away those factors and this is still a stunning release full of various layers, vocal dynamics, dense sonics, sheer intensity, and subtle beauty all wrapped in a crushing, 38+ minute statement that is well worth your attention.

I’ll admit that I’d heard bits and pieces of each song as the band was laying down the tracks and although I’d had favorites from some early rough mixes, what really knocked me out was the depth and breadth of just the instrumental tracks.  I’d caught the band live a few years ago before my son joined and thought they sounded really good- lots of heavy riffing, jackhammer drumming, and fiery vocals- so when Ian mentioned that he was joining I was excited for what I would hear.  But what I didn’t know at the time was that the band had recruited a second guitarist and one I knew quite well-  Waylon Baker, Ian’s former bandmate in his previous band The Earth Laid Bare.  Always solid in the riff department, I had a feeling Waylon’s melodic, layered patterns could provide an emotional lift/shift and provide some serious ear candy that would fit in with original guitarist Evan Hildebrandt’s muscular riffs.  After just one listen to those early raw tracks, I could tell with the addition of Ian and Waylon that this was shaping up to be an excellent disc.

So how about the final product?  As someone who likes both sides of the heavy/light coin, any band that can combine the best of both elements in their material always catches my ear and this disc does not disappoint.  Listening to Serenity In The Black is a journey through various shades of color and a collage of sound within songs and across the entirety of the disc; one minute you’re listening to the insistent throb of a riff (take intro cut “Crippling Thing”) that shifts to a melodic and bright chorus section before careening back and forth between double timed crunch and deep growls (“I feel broken”) to a beautifully tapped melodic and clean vocal section, and the next minute you’re listening to the ferocious heaviosity of something like “Enemy” (possibly my favorite cut on here), which combines a frenetic, thrashy pace with some serious chug and aggressive vocals.  However, if that heavy is too much for you this release is well-balanced with songs like the melancholic and beautifully melodic “Despondent” and the dark and hopeful “Catching Rain”; two songs that feature mostly clean vocals from Logan Adams (the former also featuring Spiritbox singer Courtney LaPlante, who meshes extremely well) that offer up a sharp contrast to much of the material on this disc.  That mix of styles and the overall variety is well balanced and has me hitting the repeat button and on second listen I’ll hear something I’d not caught before.  There are so many layers of sounds, textures, tones, and emotions on display that it’s hard for me to imagine someone NOT finding something to like here.  It’s that good.

Hard to choose highlights but I’ll pick out a few things that sink in and grab my ear:

The bass:  Of course!  VERY PROUD of my son and his playing on this disc and the final master really showcases a massively deep (and I do mean DEEEEEEP) bass tone.  It’s not that I hear the bass but I FEEL it; it’s the solid foundation on every song.  One minute Ian is holding down thick roots and letting single notes rumble to support certain sections of a song, and the next he’s got a fluid, speedy run to match the riffs that Evan and Waylon are laying down.  That vibration… that insistent “WHOOOOM”…  is the constant and the glue that everything is stuck to and built on.

The drums:  Man, talk about some solid thunder.  Dylan Krebs is the machine and really drives the band forward on a lot of this material, whether it be massive double kicks through the heavier sections or laying back a shade in the lighter moments.  Especially love the intro to the monstrous “Enemy” and the wall of sound supporting the riff.

The guitars:  Already highlighted a bit at the beginning but to rehash…  give me a fat, beefy riff you’re good, give me a beautifully ethereal melody and that’s fab too, but the ability to combine the two and make it interesting?  Now you’re talking.  Just fantastic work here by Evan and Waylon.

The vocals:  I mentioned at the beginning how excited I was with the depth and breadth of the instrumental tracks?  Same excitement when I heard the vocal tracks for the first time.  Logan Adams delivers some fiery power via deep, guttural growls one moment to melodic and clean vocal sections the next, which adds to the multiple moods, ebbs, and flows within and across each track.  Excellent!

Dynamics:  Where do I start?  This is where a lot of the magic happens on this disc.  Lead track “Crippling Thing” is a great example-  there is so much tempo build and manic shift going on at the intro and during the heavy sections, but then the bar gets raised with an uplifting clean vocal and melodic tapping section that whiplashes back to an insistently crushing riff.  Same dynamics apply to the massive title cut “Serenity In The Black”, which builds up from a dark and brooding intro section into a dense wall of thick chords and tricky riffage until the bottom falls out in favor of another quiet buildup of whispered vocals and mélange of sound.  Toss in the storming aural journey of the swirling “I Hope You Know” for one final uplifting crescendo (some GREAT bass runs here) to close out one awesome disc.

“Willow”:   Not sure what it is about this song, but the mood shift from “Catching Rain” into “Willow” is such a mighty deep and wide crevice that speaks further to the dynamics on display and is probably the best example of tonal shift between individual songs rather than within the songs themselves.  The relatively quiet and introspective hopefulness of “Catching Rain” is at one end of the sonic spectrum but the full-on shift into the blindingly hot “Willow” is like going from 0 to 60 MPH in the blink of an eye.  Makes a strong run for favorite song on the disc along with “Enemy” and the title cut.

All in all, if you like heavy and atmospheric metal with progressive touches then Serenity In The Black is a very worthwhile addition to your music library.  I’ve only highlighted a little over half of the album but all songs are VERY good-  download and buy the whole thing, press play, and leave it on repeat because you’re going to want to hear it a few times in a row.  Kudos to the guys for making an excellent record-  I can’t wait to hear how this sounds live!

To buy merch, click here: Merch | Eternal Void (bandcamp.com)