Dirge Eternal are a Finnish metal band, formed in 2008 by vocalist Jani Perta with a love of horror and melodic music he went on the hunt for other musicians sharing the same interests. In May 2009 their first EP ‘Within the Dark’ was recorded. However, the band weren’t entirely satisfied and felt it wasn’t their best. This led them to do more gigs and polish up their act for their next release, a 5 track EP ‘Lucifer’s Lullaby’ showing more of what the band are capable of. Now in 2012 the 3 track EP ‘Under the Spell’ is soon to be released ….

An epic intro to the first track on the EP ‘The Slaughterhouse’. Superb drumming and a cheesy as hell vocalist sounding much like the American progressive band Kamelot but with pubescent high pitched screams. The guitar solo fits perfectly however, it could have been a bit longer. The general tempo is bouncy and the chorus has some battle style group vocals. ‘Under the Spell’ opens up with some cracking catchy riffs. The vocals on this one are striking, reminding me a lot of Sonata Arctica’s Tony Kakko with his broken English singing, strangely appealing! Again with the group vocals, they really make the tracks stand out and the high pitched 80s styled wailing in the background is fantastic.

Ending the 3 track EP with ‘Within the Dark’ which isn’t the strongest of the 3 tracks but it certainly isn’t crap. The riff throughout is impressive and skilful and the dramatic keyboards stand out in an almost Phantom of the Opera sense. The talking part toward the end of the track in a dark brooding voice “Now the dream of this life must end, and so must the dreamers within it, for years they denied their own fate,  for now is the end of days and I am the reaper.” Followed by a delicious, gruff riff and a Santana styled solo.

In all honesty yes, these guys are good. However, they do sound a lot like the rest of the stuff that’s flying out from every angle from Finland. Do they have that extra oooft to offer up something slightly different? They certainly are capable of it!

So come on fellas, let’s try for a record deal and a full length album???

(6/10 Charlene Rance)

http://www.dirge-eternal.com