After a 5-year break, Swedish Death-Metallers, ETERNAL OATH has returned to us with two new members and fresh ideas for their fifth album, "Ghostlands".

We begin our journey as we walk with guitars and keyboards "Into the Mists of Sorrow". Joni Mäensivu gives us growling vocals as we become "Entangled in Time" with a beast. The keyboards of Johan Adler help to smooth the hackles of this beast, as well as an occasional entry of choir voices and melodic guitars. This reviewer is not a huge fan of harsh vocals, so I was grateful that there was an effective, yet ominous whisper introduced in "Tears of Faith", along with melodic singing of one female and two male voices. This song was a good sampling of the metal sub-genres we are hearing these days.

"Remnants Of Yesterday" offers Rock - like, catchy riff sequences. The vocals are a less-forced duet, and are much easier on the ears. "Stolen Innocence" begins with a shy, gentle keyboard melody that is soon taken by a dominant guitar and seducer's voice. Vocals and guitars intensify and we know that innocence is forever gone. The song teases back and forth between violent and gentle instrumentation, which only further entangles its prey. One's fate is sealed with the concluding angelic keyboard melody. The drama of this song makes it the high point of the album.
"Fields Of Dreams" is the closest to a love song that we encounter, but is by no means a ballad. This track offers an exposed view of Joni Mäensivu melodic bass range. He also has moments of calling in the ghost of Vincent Price.

"The Cross I Bear" seems to have crossed into hard and indie rock territories, yet maintained an overall Metal sound. One may catch a few measures of PINK FLOYD's style in this track, as well. "Sunborn" is a track in which more of the keyboards and less voice would have been preferred. There is a delightful 10-note melody that has to compete here. It alludes to an unfulfilled desire to continue. Perhaps we'll hear the rest later? "Bleeding Sympathy" strikes as the most symphonic of the eleven tracks. What can one say of such a likable anthem, except that it was imperative to listen to "Hymn of the Fallen" twice.  Don't analyze it, just listen. Of all the vocals on the album, those of the final (and title) track, "Ghostlands" were the most favored. We hear a deep melodic bass, another snippet of Vincent Price's ghost, choir, harsh and female vocals. Their guest female vocalists could hold her own amongst the greats, such as Floor Jansen. I hope that we hear more of her in the future.

Although melodic death metal is not my go-to genre, this album was one I definitely count amongst the good experiences. The vocals were not overdone. The tracks were well-ordered. The musicianship was excellent. I wish ETERNAL OATH well as they re-ascend the ranks to again be one of the leading acts in Sweden. I doubt it will take long. Let us also wish them a happy 20^th anniversary!