Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Label: Massacre Records
Release: 2009
Runtime: 40:16
Rating: 3/5
Finnish melodic death metallers Eternal Tears of Sorrow have been around since 1994, with six studio albums under their belt, a breakup in 2001 and a reunion in 2005. The comeback album Before the Bleeding Sun followed quickly after the reunion, and this May the Finns came back with their sixth studio record, Children of the Dark Waters.
The album picks up right where its predecessor left off – with Angelheart, Ravenheart (Act II: Children of the Dark Waters), which drags us in with a symphonic intro backed by ambient choir vocals. Those first few seconds already tell us what’s coming: massive amounts of cheese, because Children of the Dark Waters is positively soaked in a clichéd, “cheesy” atmosphere. After the quasi-mystical intro, we’re quickly greeted by vocalist Altti Veteläinen, whose clear, distinct, half-spoken growl sounds like a pirate with a head cold. Alongside classic, been-there-heard-that melodic death metal, which hit its peak with the Swedes At the Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, Eternal Tears of Sorrow throw in keyboards from the fingers of Janne Tolsa. They handle the symphonic side, build the atmosphere and add extra depth. Sadly, though, that’s also the part responsible for the album’s cheesiest, rawest side, and it feels like the keyboards mostly hide average, generic riffs and totally standard drumming. And of course, there’s Altti’s pirate barking, which is occasionally swapped out for screams, choir singing and guest female vocals. Maybe the weakest part of the album is the songs themselves, which are pretty similar to each other. Almost all of them start with a symphonic/keyboard intro, the keyboards soon get joined by the other instruments, which mostly deliver uninspired riffs. And every single one follows the worn-out formula of verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge and the occasional solo spot (guitar or keyboard). Then again, it’s not all bad, since Eternal Tears of Sorrow do occasionally surprise with an ear-pleasing riff, a bit of shredding or a symphonic section.
All in all, Children of the Dark Waters isn’t a bad album, but it strongly suggests that Eternal Tears of Sorrow have entered a phase of stagnation and burnout. The Finns are plagued by an overuse of exactly the elements that make so many people steer clear of the worn-out power metal genre – overblown symphonics, occasional female vocals, choirs and similar “filler”. For that very reason, the album fits right in next to a nice slab of cheese.
Lineup
Altti Veteläinen – harsh vocals, bass
Jarmo Kylmänen – clean vocals, choir
Jarmo Puolakanaho – guitar
Risto Ruuth – guitar
Janne Tolsa – keyboards
Juho Raappana – drums (1, 4, 5, 7, 8,9, 10)
Petri Sankala – drums (2, 3, 6, 11)
Miriam Renv̴g Рfemale vocals
Heidi Parviainen – female vocals
Tracklist
1.Angelheart, Ravenheart (Act II: Children of the Dark Waters)
2.Baptized By the Blood of Angels
3.Tears of Autumn Rain
4.Summon the Wild
5.Sea of Whispers
6.Midnight Bird
7.Diary of Demonic Dreams
8.When the Darkest Night Falls
9.Nocturne Thule
