The Eternal (band)

This article is about the Australian band. For the British R&B group, see Eternal (band).

The Eternal
Background information
Origin	Melbourne, Australia
Genres	Dark Rock Progressive rock Gothic rock
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Firebox Records (Europe) SMR (Japan)
Website	http://www.the-eternal.com
Members
Mark Kelson Dave Langlands Marty O'Shea

The Eternal are an Australian band formed in 2003 by Mark Kelson and Chris Stevenson.

History

The Eternal formed in Melbourne, Australia in mid-2003. Later that year, they signed a two-album deal with Firebox Records of Finland on the strength of a self-titled promotional EP. Their debut album for Firebox 'The Sombre Light of Isolation' was released worldwide in June 2004, and received glowing reviews in both mainstream and underground media around the globe. Darren White (ex-Anathema/The Blood Divine) also contributed guest vocals on the track ‘Remembrance Scars’.

‘The Sombre Light of Isolation’ was voted 5th best Australian release of 2005 by listeners to Australian national radio Triple J's Full Metal Racket, and nominated as 2nd best Australian album of 2005 by the show's presenter. The band was also named in Kerrang! magazine's '50 Bands You Need To Know Right Now'. The Eternal completed two videos for the album, ‘Down’ and ‘Crimson Sacrifice’. In support of this album, The Eternal toured Australia, Hong Kong, continental Europe, UK and Finland in late 2004, and upon return immediately set about writing material for their second album ‘Sleep of Reason’.

Recorded early in 2005, ‘Sleep of Reason’ extends The Eternal's sound from their debut work. It was produced and recorded by Endel Rivers at Palm Studios in Melbourne, and mastered by Mika Jussila (Amorphis, Nightwish, Therion) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. The album's sleeve-art was created by Travis Smith (Opeth, Katatonia, Anathema) based on the etching 'El sueño de la razon produce monstruos' by Francisco de Goya. Videos for ‘Everlasting’, ‘A Soul Undone’ and ‘Hollow Inside’ followed the release of the album.

In 2006 The Eternal landed the Australian national support slot for Finnish rockers HIM, which coincided with the Australian release of ‘Sleep of Reason’. These successful shows were shortly followed by six shows supporting Swedish death/prog masters Opeth on their ‘Ghost Reveries’ Australian tour.

After touring Australia extensively for the release of ‘Sleep of Reason’ and playing to well over 15,000 people in their home country, the band set off for their second tour of Europe in May 2007. The tour saw the band return to Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and the Netherlands. On their return home, the band went about completing and compiling three years worth of demo material for what would soon become ‘Kartika’.

The Eternal’s 2008 album ‘Kartika,’ may be seen as the bands most diverse and ambitious album to date. Guests on the album include Duncan Patterson (ex-Anathema, Antimatter and Íon) on Mandolin, Nicholas Albanis (Dandelion Wine) on Hammered Dulcimer and Russian songstress Emily A. Saaen to name a few.

’Kartika’ was produced between December 2007 and May 2008 , recorded at several studios in Australia including Mixmasters Studios, Adelaide and Palm Studios in Melbourne. It was mixed in Tallinn, Estonia by Endel Rivers at Palm Studios II and mastered at Crystal Mastering, Melbourne, Australia by John Ruberto.

January 2009 saw the departure of co-founding member Chris Stevenson for personal reasons. Chris stated 'The Eternal was basically my life for a good 5 years and I loved every single moment of it! It was also an extremely gruelling experience, which at times took its toll on me on a personal level'. The band will continue on as a 3 piece and at this point have no intention to find a replacement.

The Eternal completed an extensive world tour in June 2009. The tour took the band through Australia, Japan, Europe, America, Canada & Mexico.

In November 2009, the band commenced work on their fourth album which will be titled Under a New Sun, which will be produced by Jeff Martin, former singer of The Tea Party.

Members

• Mark Kelson (Guitar/Vocals/Keyboards) (2003–Present)
• Dave Langlands (Bass Guitar) (2008–Present)
• Marty O'Shea (Drums) (2004–Present)

Former Members

Keyboards

• Chris Stevenson (Keyboards) (2003–2009)

Guitar

• Terry Vainoras (2007–2009)
• Lincoln Bowen (2005–2006)
• Chris Burton (2003–2004)
• Matt Castles (2004 European Tour)

Bass

• James Hunt (2003–2006)
• Paul Tipping (2003)

Drums

• Ryan Buesnel (2003–2004)

Discography

Albums

• The Sombre Light of Isolation (2004)
• Sleep of Reason (2005)
• Kartika (2008)
• Under a New Sun (June 2010)

DVDs

• Sombre Visions (2005) (Internet Only - Out of Print)
• A Fleeting Glance (2006) (Internet Only - Out of Print)
• Kartika World Tour 2009 (2010) (Internet Only)

Other releases

• Promo 2003 (2003)
• Keep On Dooming In The Free World (2005)
• Black Box e-anthology (2008)

See also

• InSomnius Dei
• Cryptal Darkness

External links

• The Eternal Official Site
• The Eternal @ MySpace.com