The German septet AETERNITAS gave a right shot and created a very good album on "House Of Usher", which is their fourth album. Their musical style can be described as a mix between an elegant and grandiose form of Doom Metal practiced on the first half of last decade (once more, I say that I don't believe and agree with "Gothic Metal" label) with the grandiosity of symphonic arrangements. The keyboards arrangements are excellent, as well as the guitars riffs; the rhythmic session is doing great, giving the necessary weight and a good rhythmic diversity, and the contrast between choirs, male and female voices is perfect. Their music flows melodic and introspective in some moments, and in other ones is grandiose and filled with abrasive guitar parts. Maybe the musical formula is nothing new, but the way they use it is excellent.

Alexander Hunzinger made the recording and mixing of the album, Henning Basse produced the vocal parts, and Götz Kretschmann made the mastering. The final result is a sound quality that is elegant and clear as their musical work needs, but the essential weight is present as well. The cover created by Kurt Wörsdörfer catches the spirit of the band's music, because the lyrics are based on Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Fall of the House Of Usher".

There are 15 songs on the album, and the best ones are: the grandiose and heavy moments presented on "House of Usher" (filled with many different parts, going from tender melodic moments to great orchestral parts) and "The Prophecy" (very good rhythmic work, and the contrast between melodic parts and good doses of heavy moments is presented once more, showing an amazing work from the vocals); the great melodic lines on "Roderick" and on the tender "Madeline", the perfect vocals that are presented on "Forbidden Love" (where very good guitars are doing fine riffs); the abrasive weight of the guitars on "Tears", the good taste on the mixing of heavy parts with very good melodies on "Buried Alive" (the bass guitar is really showing very good moments), and the melodic lines presented on the energetic "Falling Star". "The House Of Usher" is an excellent album, indeed.