Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Eternal Idol
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2016
Duration: 58:13
Rating: 3.5/5
Eternal Idol are a new Italian symphonic power metal outfit. The whole thing wouldn’t even be worth a look if it weren’t for vocalist Fabio »Does anyone happen to know yet whether he really left Rhapsody of Fire?« Lione (also Angra).
I don’t know how many of you survivors are still following the ultra-melodic catchiness of the power metal genre in 2017, thoroughly kitted out with operetta-style tunes and decked out with symphonic orchestrations. Eternal Idol slot right into the phalanx of bands like, of course, Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, Secret Sphere, Finland’s Stratovarius, then (ever more tearful) fellow Finns Sonata Arctica, and on to the likes of Delain and similar bands where a woman shares the lead vocals too. Yep. The vocal lines are split between Fabio and Giorgia Colleluori. The latter doesn’t have a mezzo-soprano voice, so don’t expect yet another Tarja or Simone Simons (Epica) at the mic. She often stays in the mid register, where she can sound slightly frothy, as in the opener Evil Tears, where the band instantly unleashes an ultra-infectious chorus. Lione jumps in right away with his distinctive, instantly recognizable operatic voice, staying up in the higher reaches of the opener’s chorus melody, and the duet makes for exceptionally pleasing harmonizing of the lead melody.
Of course, Eternal idol aren’t discovering Einstein’s theory of relativity in music. What you hear on this album you’ve known for a very, very long time. But this is the Italian approach to power metal, and you need to keep that in mind first and foremost. That means baroque frills with every kind of “kitsch clutter” imaginable. The orchestral aesthetic is a constant guarantee of the at times downright bizarre character of the bombastic melodies, which is of course quickly comparable to the classic work of Rhapsody or Rhapsody of Fire. Arrangement-wise, the compositions are practically flawless. The handover of catchiness between verse (pre-chorus) and chorus is very skillfully packaged and wildly infectious all the way through. On top of the obligatory mid-eight passages that crank up the drama-theater of the album’s bombastic invasion, there’s a pile of lead-melody modulations that both vocalists fall back on, effectively showing off their top-notch singing chops.
Given that power metal is in decline these days, the general generic feel of the compositions doesn’t even bother me. Fans of the genre should be glad to get another very high-quality packaged album in a genre that’s increasingly “neglected” and that today can only be dragged back out by combining it with elaborate costumes, glitter and kitsch (right, Powewolf, Sabaton, Gloryhammer and whoever else) . The compositions are very similar to each other, and the highlights are harder to pick out.
In short, a nice, skillfully packaged album that, thanks to the sheer number of tracks, is at least two songs too long and so runs almost an hour, which is too much. Potentially a pleasant addition to your symphonic power metal CD collection, but all in all, though a likeable and quality record, completely inconsequential. Eternal Idol are a crew of buddies who know each other well, communicate very well in the studio, and are in every respect a 100% Italian story about metal, where pure-blooded classical training and education have always come first and where the axiom is »more kitsch and pomp, more joy«. At that, Eternal Idol are true masters, and the Italian audience will surely not leave them in the lurch with a studio debut like this. They’ll definitely be eating out of their hands.
Eternal Idol – Evil Tears:
Line-up
Fabio Lione – vocals
Giorgia Colleluori – vocals
Nick Savio – guitar, keyboards
Andrea Buratto – bass
Camillo Colleluori – drums
Tracklist
01. Evil Tears
02. Another Night Comes
03. Awake in Orion
04. Is The Answer Far From God?
05. Blinded
06. Sad Words Unvailed
07. Desidia
08. Hall Of Sins
09. Feels Like I’m Dying
10. A Song In The Wind
11. Stormy Days
12. Beyond
