Not all melodic Death Metal bands aka Gothenburg Death Metal turn their heads, ears and souls towards the ongoing world of Metalcore. Fortunately for us, the Metal fans that also enjoy the intense music with clouds of melodies, such bands exist. However, I am not talking about the veterans such as AT THE GATES, DARK TRANQUILITY, DISSECTION, NIGHTRAGE, CATAMENIA, ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW and ARCH ENEMY among others. I aimed my aphorism regarding newcomer bands. In this case I am talking about the DARK ETERNITY crew from Spain that was able to excite me with their debut album via Suspiria Records, "Selenia".

DARK ETERNITY fairly plays in the same musical patterns that guided those bands I mentioned above, nevertheless their music felt slightly different. In a way the tracklist sounded less modernized than most of the melodic Death Metal releases spreading like moths nowadays. Sometimes I had the feeling that I was snooping through DARK TRANQUILITY's early classic of "Skydancer" and the "Carpet" album by CEREMONIAL OATH. Although the music was the main motive that led me to those archetypal releases, I couldn't ignore the sound production.

On the other hand, me not ignoring the production led me to find its shortages, especially when the drums sounded like chop sticks. Old school desired or not, "Selenia" wasn't such a great production work. The mix was more or less endurable due to my close attention to the guitars' sound that showed me why I was so obsessed about the sensation of early 90s extreme albums. Furthermore, above and beyond the acoustic sections, which were appealing and were produced very well, the distorted (electric) areas that were the large majority of the album lacked a halo of bass that was so badly required. In general, "Selenia" could have been produced better; maybe a remix is in order.

Other than the production that lessened them, it was the only real Achilles heel that DARK ETERNITY had over here. Their music, even not too inventive as their appreciation towards the gods of the subgenre was perfectly unmistakable, was spectacular. "Selenia" is one of the best models of the graceful character of melodic Death Metal. It can be heavy and vicious but when the melodies kick in, it is a thing of beauty. I think that the "The Fate Of Human Being" was the band's special of tracks as it inhibited strong vibes of modern and old school Thrash Metal al'a SLAYER along with the belligerence of Death Metal storming forward. "Beneath A Bleeding Sky", sounded very similar to something I heard in one of AT THE GATES's albums, and "Before The Dawn" were equally impressive to the former starlet as they leaned more on the melodic roots of the subgenre. The reverberation may sound modern but all that matter is the musical approach.

The magical moments of "Selenia" may impose shards of frostiness as the self-titled instrumental starts playing but soon afterwards, it's going through a world of hurt, a good world of hurt. Tune up to this album.