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Into Eternity > Fukushima > Reviews
Into Eternity - Fukushima

An impressive tribute to an auspicious happening. - 90%

hells_unicorn, May 7th, 2012

It’s been a slow reanimation process, especially considering the side-endeavors of late for Stu Block, but Into Eternity is showing some actual signs of studio life. A little less than a year prior Tim Roth came out with a little single inspired by the death of Osama Bin Laden, and in the midst of February of this present year another series of current events has managed to bring a bit more currency to Roth’s songwriting arsenal. In this particular incarnation, the object of influence is the disaster of the Fukushima power plant via a massive tsunami, and the magnitude of both the catalyst and the following disaster are all but wholly matched by what is displayed here musically.

The typical composite of modern tech. death, melodeath, power and progressive metal that has defined much of the band’s sound since taking on Stu Block is on full display here, but in such a concentrated dose that it’s actually extremely difficult to process everything in a single listen, despite the chorus being about as catchy as they come. That’s basically where this band has always been masterful at roping in its audience, by developing a particular niche that is not only thought provoking and complex to the point of bewilderment, but also memorable and leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Stu’s vocals accomplish what normally takes 3 or 4 people to do, and there is still room for Roth’s razor thin tenor in the background and an even more guttural and formidable death bark out of the now dearly departed Rob Doherty.

But the most outwardly distinct characteristic of this song in relation to the rest of Into Eternity’s past endeavors is a slight robotic character to some of the harmony vocals during the chorus. It’s the same basic idea as what came about when Cynic put out “Focus”, though with a much faster, nastier, and less overall mechanical feel. For all of the various tricks and effects thrown in, “Fukushima” manages to sound remarkably organic. And of course, for every avid guitar shred fanatic out there, Roth provides his obligatory excursions into post-Petrucci territory, but with a slightly more symmetrical structure and a slight helping of Gothenburg oriented melodic sensibilities. It’s quite a dense mixture stylistically, yet somehow it manages to come off as smooth and digestible, though it took about 3 to 4 listens for me to fully get the entire musical picture being displayed.

To put it plainly, anyone who thought some of Cynic’s ideas were interesting but thought that they went in a little too much of a progressive rock direction will want to look into this band, and this song would be a good place to start given that it contains a solid, distilled representation of every trick in this band’s arsenal. There is also good cause to be optimistic about the next Into Eternity LP if this song and “Sandstorm” are any indication of the direction that Roth and company will be taking. They say that reality is stranger than fiction, yet somehow Into Eternity’s take on the former is stranger still, and in a good way just to be clear.

A return to form! - 100%

deathmetalfreak169, February 18th, 2012

Into Eternity have been one of my favorite bands for quite sometime. Their last record "The Incurable Tragedy" was released 4 years ago and had left me a little skeptical of their future. With the news that vocalist Stu Block would be joining Iced Earth I was concerned if they would be able to continue on with or without him. Thankfully they are still recording with Stu and "Fukushima" proves that the band is back in full swing.

Fans of Into Eternity's earlier releases will be pleased as Tim Roth and Rob Doherty make an appearance on vocals. Stu delivers a style of singing that differs from both his previous work with Into Eternity or Iced Earth. The vocal lines are well delivered and thought out and there is a great deal of harmony on this song as well. Lyrically the band breaks new ground with a more political subject regarding the natural disasters that took place in Japan last year. The death vocals are still prominent and really add to the chaotic changes within the song.

The guitar work is the most inspired that it has been since 2004's (Buried In Oblivion) and even with the progressive nature of the music it still flows well and has catchy moments. The lead work is brilliant and fans of tasteful shredding will also enjoy the solo passages. Tim and Justin execute the trade offs perfectly and the harmonized sweeps are nothing short of amazing. The riffs themselves contain a more extreme vibe found in the band's more recent sound but still has the melody that was prominent on "Dead or Dreaming" or "Buried In Oblivion". As always, Troy delivers solid bass-work that not only compliments the guitars but also adds it's own element to the music.

The one thing that stands out the most is the bands newest member, drummer Brian Newbury. I was not a fan of their last drummer Steve as Jim Austin had always been a crucial part of the bands sound. Brian not only delivers a stellar performance that makes the sound progressive but he really displays a fresh element that Into Eternity hasn't had in sometime. The blasting is placed well and his fills are mind blowing.

The production on this song is multitudes better than last year's "Sandstorm" single or "The Incurable Tragedy". I would go as far as to say that this is the best they have ever sounded. The vocals are placed well in the mix without drowning out the rest of the band. The guitar tone has a thick warm sound and the leads cut through well in the mix. The bass is audible and has a nice jazzier tone but it doesn't get overbearing. The drum production is flawless and I really hope that they continue to use the sound that they got with this particular song.

If you are a fan or progressive metal, melodic death metal, or Into Eternity in general I highly recommend buying "Fukushima" or at least giving it a listen. I found myself signing along during the first listen and the overall composition cranks the replay value through the roof. Into Eternity are back in full swing and it's about time!