I have to remember to thank the friend who recommended Ewigkeit to me. Despite the difficulties I have remembering how to spell the band's name, Ewigkeit is awesome!
Ewigkeit is the solo of James Fogarty. He formed the band in 1997 in Brighton, England at age 16. That year he was to release Battle Furies, which he followed up with Starscape in 1999. Land Of Fog (2001) was his next release and then James took a break to explore other forms of music more fully. In 2003 he recorded Radio Ixtlan, it was released by Metal Age and a year later Earache Records did as well.
I swear, this band is going to give me a terrible case of self inflicted whiplash from extreme headbanging. This gem of industrial ambiance is progressive and more than a little catchy. The guitarist is aggressive and really good, its anger helped along by a slightly and probably purposefully rough sound. The singer has a cool mid-range voice. He tends to sing deeper rather than higher when he wants to show off. Sometimes I detect Mideastern influence in Ewigkeit's music. Ewigkeit uses sound clips to great effect. My favorite is still the one they open the album with.
It's Not Reality is probably the catchiest thing on the whole album. It has some 80's Pop influence in it but despite this is intense, with crunching guitars and a healthy dash of aggression. The Nightmare Institution has a little Blind Guardian influence in the guitar-work, though nowhere else. It is catchy and melodic with great use of synthesizers. Far From Heaven is another song that makes excellent use of sound clips. It is a very eerie track, with a desperate angry sound to it.
I had expected to like Ewigkeit but not this much. I am pretty impressed with this band and more than a little pleased to see such a good band come out of England. I've been wondering when another of these would turn up and give me my industrial fix. Horns up, Amy La Salla signing out!