Eternal Crypt is a US Melodic Extreme Metal (Black/Power/Folk) band. The band was formed in 2013 and released their debut album “Loneliness of the Wolf” in 2018. On September 28th, 2024, Eternal Crypt released their independent second full-length album, “Stages Of Grief”. The album was promoted through VladPRomotions.
Eternal Crypt Social Links
Eternal Crypt, Stages Of Grief Review: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Stages Of Grief
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Eternal Crypt and their album, Stages Of Grief
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features both electric and acoustic (adds a mystical touch to their music) guitars to create their melodic and atmospheric soundscapes. At the same time, the bass provides a deep, heavy foundation, while the orchestral sections act as a backdrop. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Characterized by a dynamic interplay of clean and aggressive vocals and chorus. At the same time, the lead vocals deliver intense, emotive vocals. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Drumming is fluid and powerful, with a mix of fast and slow tempos, adding intensity and rhythm to the music.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion:
Exploration of themes of loss, isolation, and grief, but also a feeling of inviting the listener to delve deep into their emotions
The instant the listener presses play, they are greeted by the dark, orchestral overture of Death Notice, which soon escalates into a ferocious blend of aggressive instrumentation and haunting screams.
As the listener continues their journey with the second piece, Divine Snowfall, and the remaining eight pieces. A journey that takes the listener on an exploration of themes of loss, isolation, and grief, but also a feeling of inviting the listener to delve deep into their emotions. At the same time, each track, offers a unique exploration of the human and nature experiences, creating a theatrical soundscape that is both aggressive and beautifully mystic…
Stages Of Grief unfolds as a captivating ten-track odyssey, spanning forty-eight minutes and traversing a rich tapestry of emotional terrains. Stages Of Grief intertwines the haunting elements of atmospheric black metal and the ferocity of death metal. At the same time, Eternal Crypt also embraces the melodic intricacies found in power metal, the mystical element of folk metal, orchestral, and the dark and isolated atmosphere of doom metal, creating a powerful backdrop.
As the listener immerses themselves in the album, a rich tapestry of atmosphere with an enchanting mystique unfolds (particularly evident at the opening and conclusion of the fifth track, Insanity’s Crescendo) with each composition. At the core of this fruit of art creation lies a formidable cooperative spirit among the devilmanship, and a sound and lyricism meticulously crafted. The precision with which every note, composition, and score is placed ensures that nothing competes for attention; rather, each element complements the other, resulting in a seamless flow of auditory satisfaction. The aural experience is intricately woven into this production, resulting in a sound that is both refined and sophisticated, yet still retaining an appealing rawness and rugged charm.
Furthermore, throughout the album, the listener will find moments that evoke a profound sense of ambience, characterized by a dynamic interplay of clean and aggressive vocals, melodic riffs, and intricate solos. The drumming is both fluid and powerful, navigating through a spectrum of tempos and emotions that resonate deeply within the listener’s soul.
Each composition breathes life into the music, drawing the audience into its depths as if they were participants in a grand theatrical performance. This is especially palpable in the eighth track, Death Bead, where the artistry transcends mere songwriting, transforming into a captivating narrative that grips the listener’s heart.
Stages Of Grief is not just a collection of songs; it is a fruit of art journey designed to ensnare the listener, leaving an indelible mark on their musical experience. A musical experience that is delivered by this fruit of art devilmanship…
Stages Of Grief is a beautiful, dark and magical album that would appeal to fans of Blind Guardian, Cradle Of Filth, Eluveitie, A Forest Of Stars and Equilibrium.
The album concludes with the final track, Aeterna Crypta, which invites the listener into a realm of enchanting keyboard compositions. This piece serves as a fitting conclusion to the album. We want to give a shoutout to VladPRomotion for letting us review Eternal Crypt and their album Stages Of Grief. Now, we are going to conclude the review by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
The Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins of Eternal Crypt and their album, Stages Of Grief
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia:
We found great pleasure in experiencing, Stages Of Grief, where every element harmoniously coexists without overshadowing the others. This balance creates a seamless flow that evokes a sense of perfection, crafting an atmospheric soundscape that feels both enchanting and grand. The interplay of these components weaves together a magical tapestry, rich in beauty and depth. It’s a captivating journey that resonates deeply, leaving us awed by the devilmanship that brings such an epic experience to life.
For myself, I was enamoured with Eternal Crypt, and their album Stages Of Grief, but I find myself particularly drawn to the seventh piece, Daydream Of Passing, and the ninth piece, Death Bed.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork (by Jakub Jagoda) beautifully embodies the lyrical themes of the music. It goes beyond mere representation, encapsulating the very spirit of atmospheric black metal and folk metal in a truly captivating way.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Eternal Crypt and their album, Stages Of Grief. Therefore, this concludes Eternal Crypt and their album, Stages Of Grief review.
Members
Zane Knight: vocals, guitars, orchestration, and keys
Matt Berry: bass
Kaitlyn Fedele: grand piano and keys
Alex Zillioux: drums
Music and lyrics by Zane Knight, arranged by Eternal Crypt
Some keys on this album were harvested from parts written by James Hallenbeck
Additional lead guitars on “Divine Snowfall” by Eddy DiGiulio
Bass in the intro to “Daydream of Passing” by Zane Knight
Track-Listing
01. Death Notice
02. Divine Snowfall
03. Condemned
04. Stone in My Heart
05. Insanity’s Crescendo
06. Running Alone in the Forest
07. Daydream of Passing
08. Vast Expanse
09. Death Bed
10. Aeterna Crypta
