Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Eternal (USA)

Photos by Ruben Daniel

Eternal (Death Metal // USA)

Eternal is a four-piece death metal band hailing from Phoenix, Arizona. The band formed in 2021 from a collection of like minded individuals who are heavily influenced by bands such as Obituary, Death, and Dissection.

Eternal unleashed their debut EP, »Forsaken Memories«, in 2022. The project boasted a raw yet promising sound that encompassed a melodic thrashy feel. By 2023, the band released their »Faceless Evil« EP which displayed an updated lineup, sound, and direction. »Faceless Evil« delivered a more old-school, death metal approach due in no small part to its early Death and Gorguts influence, while still keeping Eternal’s melodic elements intact.

One year later, the band entered Necrotic Echoes Studio to record their debut full-length »Cryptic Lust«. Initially released in March 2024 via Dutch label Raw Skull Recordz, »Cryptic Lust« features forty minutes of truly horrifying death metal. Life is temporary, death is eternal!

Metal Forces hailed the album, “a solid and fun old-school death metal release delivered with enough stomp and bite to keep you entertained.” “Eternal is the 2024 equivalent to early Entombed. The logo, the buzzsaw guitars, the vocals. It’s all there. And we also get some extras,” proclaimed Metalopsy. Added Resident Sound, “Eternal’s first full length release »Cryptic Lust« is incredible: gothic horror gutturals to the nines, as the best old-school death metal often does and crunchy tones as the best old-school thrash metal often does… perfect.”

»Cryptic Lust«, reissued in September 2024 via Carbonized Records, is available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats. The album features cover art by Dedy Badic with additional artwork by Yoga Pranata and Curse of Face.

Courtesy of Earsplit PR

Discography:
• »Forsaken Memories« EP (Narcoleptica Productions, 2022)
• »Diabolic Rebirth« Single (2022)
• »Faceless Evil« EP (Raw Skull Recordz, 2023)
• »Cryptic Lust« Single (2023)
• »Guide Thy Hand« Single (2024)
• »Torture Chapel« Single (2024)
• »Cryptic Lust« LP (Raw Skull Recordz / Carbonized Records, 2024)

Eternal is:
Emilio Ortega – Guitar, Vocals
Sofie Nabboud – Guitar
Max Mahar – Bass
Xander Bridge – Drums

FFO: Obituary, Death, Cancer, Morbid Angel, Gruesome, Entombed, Pestilence, Skeletal Remains, Possessed

Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Linktree

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well