Webzine Reviews

 

www.MetalToInfinity.com

 

METAL TO INFINITY

May I have your attention now for these Parma, Cleveland based youngsters Eternal Legacy. Five piece Epic / Power / Progressive Metal that has a loaded package of talent to border. Formed in the summer of 2003 by the brothers Jason (vocals / rhythm guitars) / Shaun Vanek (lead guitar). The brothers Vanek were ex-Mercinary members who got company from drummer Steve Dukoslow shortly after. Three guys were ready to rock, the rest of the band was found a bit later on. Bassist Ian Savage teamed up but left the ranks briefly aftwerwards. Josk Gatka took over his duties and one of the youngest keyboard players i've ever know joined also forces with Eternal Legace. Name of this very young musician is Spencer Phillips and was only thirteen year old when he entered the band in  2005. With an average age of 20, these young Americans delivering something really awesome!!

Sharing many stages with several greats, appeared on different compilation albums...Eternal Legacy  were offered a record deal with Auburn Records, the US company under the watchful eye of CEO Bill Peters! Meanwhile, Eternal Leagacy's debut album "The Coming Of The Tempest" has been released and i'm strongly impressed of what this CD has to offer. Playing Metal music this way out AND at such a young age, they definitely gonna make it...these guys will step into the gates of fame quite soon! That's my opinion about the band!

Musical wise, it's almost perfect... driven by the magic of Metal music, Eternal Legacy plays it all in a well-considered manner. Technical all the way, you should listen to the awesome combination of both guitar players and the keyboards parts which brings me straight into the world of Progressive Metal ala: Symphorce, Kamelot or Avantasia to name a few. Melodic and catchy to the extreme, what mainly kicks me in the head while listening are the shreddings. The WOW effect is at hand for sure! Also throbbing bass works, roaring guitars and great vocals, etc... i'm totally in guys!

Epic minded as they are, some dark elements to give an extra feel to it all as well. "The Coming Of The Tempest" sounds not very renewing, mostly played in a Euro - styled manner, still with Eternal Legacy it's now and then 'Pedal To The Medal' time too! Sometimes, the band's taking the fast lane instead...headbangers, make a stand! There are enough elements or skills presently on this output to say already that Eternal Legacy is a very promising band, more than probably THE revalation concerning Prog / Power Metal nowadays. No doubt about it, they'll find their way to the top without any form of doubt. Charged with so much talent on a youtful age like this, i'll bow my Metal head and praise them to heaven!! Visit their website right HERE. More info to purchase over HERE.

MY POINTS: 93 / 100

 

www.EpicRockRadio.com

 

I have found out about a great new band called Eternal Legacy. I'm in communication with one of the band members, Jason Vanek, the lead vocalist and guitar player. Unlike many newer start up bands, their recording quality is excellent and their vocals and chorus is sharp, clean, and powerful. I feel that their musical quality more than rivals many of the top end, established powermetal / prog metal bands out there. I quite literally get emails from new bands who want to be played on the station every day. Every single day. Half the time, it's not even stuff that makes sense, not even the same genre. The other half, the stuff that is actually powermetal, is generally awful. It's very rare that a startup band actually has what it takes - For example, a lead singer who can actually... sing. Heh.

Musically, Eternal Legacy reminds me of a slightly heavier Human Fortress. Also a bit like Galloglass. They have more of a powermetal edge than Human Fortress, but don't have the constant (and often irritating) blasting attack that a lot of Galloglass has. Great harmonies. Honestly, I think they're better than both of those bands, and that's saying a lot - Human Fortress is in my top 10 bands list, as those of you who read the forums know. :-)

Mind you, I've only heard one of their songs. which (I think) is called "The Realm of Wind and Ice" ... It's on their website. You can grab it here: http://www.legacymetal.com/Music/MP3/EL_Realm.mp3 ... Their website is http://www.legacymetal.com and it's very nicely done.

I am awaiting a copy of their album which I'll be putting onto the station as soon as it arrives. They've also done a sweeper for us, which you'll be hearing in the upcoming days.

 

www.Metal-Rules.com

 

HOA Festival, GERMANY

Eternal Legacy from the USA kickstarted friday at 2 p.m.. In some place authorities would ask id's from members of Eternal Legacy but when they are on stage, who cares? No surprise is that they play little more modern stuff than bands usually at this festival. Kind of melodic, thrashy and symphonic (those keyboards) stuff of this millenium. It's not the kind of stuff I would listen at home but in sunshine at a festival with a cold beer in hand, why not? The last few songs (Metal Anvil and Shadow Of Revolution) guitarist/vocalist Jason Vanek gave his guitar to keyboardist Spencer Phillips and concentrated only on vocals. Good move I would say as their music became instantly more aggressive and in-your-face heavy metal. These guys should have good future ahead of them if only lady fortune watches over them!

 

Band Reviews:

 

 

www.MetalCdRatings.com:

 

Here's a real curveball from long-running Ohio-based label, Auburn Records. The imprint is known for nothing if not a reputation for being staunchly traditional in its approach to Midwestern U.S. metal, releasing CDs by the likes of Destructor, Breaker, Shok Paris, Aftershok and Wretch in recent years. Auburn Records is synonymous with high quality, no-nonsense, died-in-the-wool old-school metal. Naturally I assumed that Eternal Legacy would be of the same ilk, particularly when I learned that their lead guitarist and co-writer, Shaun Vanek, also plays in Wretch (although he is not credited on that act's superb 2006 release, 'Reborn').

In truth, Eternal Legacy have little in common with their labelmates. For starters, they're a whole lot younger. From the band photos, I'd wager that as many as 3 of the band members were not even a twinkle in their fathers' eyes when the curtain closed on the decade of the 80s, so there's a very different frame of reference here. Pantera or 'Jester Race'-era In Flames probably qualify as classic metal in these youngsters' minds. Furthermore, Eternal Legacy boast a heavy reliance on keyboards that is unprecedented on the Auburn roster. And these aren't mere atmospheric background keyboards either. Sometimes they sound spacey like Ayreon, sometimes like techno, sometimes like video game effects, and sometimes even like black metal ambience, but they're very prominent in the band's overall sound. So whatever you do, don't embark on this musical journey expecting to hear 59 minutes of music in the same style as Breaker or Wretch, because that ain't what Eternal Legacy are about.

So what do Eternal Legacy sound like then? It's actually a very difficult question. The label has characterized them as European-styled epic power metal. I guess I can hear that, as there are elements of the arrangements, the vocals, and the keyboard/guitar interplay that are reminiscent of especially the Italian school of melodic power metal. But in some ways that moniker is misleading because there's a lot more going on here than just a plain vanilla Labyrinth power/prog type band. There are loads of heavy-duty riffs that would not be out of place on an Iced Earth or a Brainstorm song. There are a couple of bits where the riffing and pinch harmonics are reminiscent of the departed Dimebag Darrell. There are even parts (I'm thinking specifically here of the middle section of "Cyberplague") where the band dip into unabashed Dragonforce worship with hyperspeed melodic guitar runs, wacked-out keys and blastbeats. So what Eternal Legacy give us is a sound that's traditional enough to justify their appearance at this month's Headbanger's Open Air Festival in Germany, while experimental enough to grab the ProgPower crowd and cutting-edge enough to appeal to the younger generation of metalheads.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this CD. I applaud Eternal Legacy for not simply writing a cookie-cutter traditional metal CD, and for having the courage and creativity to attempt to meld their influences into something different from the norm. There are some absolutely killer tunes ("Metal anvil" and "Shadow of revolution" come to mind) and excellent riffs and melodies are to be found in abundance. But I don't think they've quite achieved their goal yet. Those keyboards are uber-distracting at times and often do not fit the music (all of this is coming, of course, from someone who generally dislikes keyboards in metal, and especially despises "weird" keyboard sounds frolicking through his music, so take it with a pound of salt). Also, singer Jason Vanek is obviously a guitar player first and a vocalist second. His voice is okay and all, but he sometimes strains against his limited range, a bit like the guy in Steel Tormentor or even a Chris Caffery, trying to do too much. Finally, the disparate influences mentioned above sometimes clash in ways that make the material sound disjointed and lack cohesion.

All of that said, my message for the guys in Eternal Legacy is a positive one. Don't give up. You're onto something good. Don't cater to what crusty narrow-minded old-school guys like me think. Find your own path, your own sound. You have the potential to be something special. Bill Peters will take good care of you. I'll be watching and listening with interest.

 

www.MetalCovenant.com:

 

Found on www.metalcovenant.com
Fire's Wrath*             *denotes staff choices
Rise Of Daemon*
Realm Of Wind And Ice*
Shadow Of Revolution*
Tremor
Time Out Of Mind*
The Coming Of The Tempest
Metal Anvil*
The Cavern
One Last Hope
Cyberplague*
Into The Afterworld


Genre Traditional Metal Jason Vanek Vocals
Tracks 12 Shaun Vanek Guitar
Runningtime 59 Min. - Guitar
Label Auburn Records Josh Gatka Bass
Release 19 June 2007 Steve Dukuslow Drums
Country USA Spencer Phillips Keyboard
Similar artists Symphony X, Kansas, Dragonforce  


As I endeavor to inscribe my first CD review in well over two months, I am quite honoured that it is for the band whom I truly appreciate and revere. Ever since I first witnessed Eternal Legacy's tempestuous time out of mind deliverance, when they opened for Dragonforce in May of 2006; up until just recently when Wendy, myself, and our nigh four year old son were invited to their warm up show, before their inaugural visit to Germany to play Headbanger's Open Air Festival with fellow hessians Wretch - so much of my mettle view of life has been ever so positively attuned. Therefore, how do I honestly assess a band of brothers, who have also become friends and family - merely strangers yesterday?

When Bill Peters signed Eternal Legacy to Auburn Records, he held a glimpse of the next generation and direction for metal 's prosperous future. Known for being Cleveland's true and classic metal guru, Bill took a chance to promote Eternal Legacy by pushing the very threshhold of tolerance and genre classification. Eternal Legacy use keyboards, and quite sporadically, but they are not progressive nor power metal. Childhood prodigy - Spencer Phillips - will astound you with his artistic license and locquacious construct. Surely, he may have grown up listening to Pantera, Iced Earth, Metallica, and In Flames, playing Playstation; nevertheless, his classically trained skills empower him to create atmospheric melodies which will appeal to fans of Symphony X and Dragonforce, alike.

The twin guitar attack of brothers to the core - Jason and Shaun Vanek strike the metal anvil - hard and heavy, with raging riffs of pure majesty and mayhem in a celebration of fury and fires wrath. Shaun is so adept, that when he solos on Cyberplague, he casts aspersion on self-made god complex shredders like Herman Li and Yngwie. This eternal argosy and shadow of revolution battles on, marching to the rythymatic cadence call of bassist Josh Gatka - a character of rectitude and revelry - in symbiotic time change with the bone crushing, ballistic drumming of Steve Dukuslow.

Every song from The Coming Of The Tempest shines in its own light, in the realm of wonderful and enticing songwriting which will easily appeal to any metalhead, of any age. For a debut and self-produced release, this CD reverberates with passion and expertise. Jason Vanek's vocal range is solid and still original. Sounding at times like Mathias Blad from Falconer, tinged with an almalgamation of classic rock intrigue, and early Metal Blade era vocalists, both his singing and guitar talent are beyond reproach. Jason is the mastermind behind these metal mercinaries, having writen the motherlode of music.

Every thunder crash, bang, wallop and nebulous sonnet will ride the lightning of this storm's vein with a cyclone of reverance;but, tracks like the rippin' Realm Of Wind And Ice, Time Out Of Mind, Shadow Of Revolution, and the blistering Metal Anvil or contagious Cyberplague will congeal and haunt your soul; echoing repeatedly in your head and metal heart.

These songs have all been around for quite awhile, in many different forms. Eternal Legacy is so accomplished, that they already have a new album's worth of material ready to record once they return from Europe, and their club daze with Human Fortress celebrating Jason's birthday and Josh's runic ancestral heritage. After hearing such new bites like Abbadon (perhaps inspired when they opened for Venom last summer), or the furiously intense Wicked Glory, I am ever psyched for their next release to be unleashed.

Bill Peters, in all his wisdom and experience realizes the talent this band exudes. Eternal Legacy love all metal and her influences. Just listening to their covers of Starship, Kansas, and Metallica emphasizes the ubiquitious range of these youthful prospects. There is no doubt in my mind and heart, that when people refer to the eternal legacy of Cleveland metal, with one last hope, these youthful and jovial lads will ascend to the ranks of such legends as Wretch, Breaker, Shok Paris, and the mighty Destructor!

Performance Originality Production Vocals Songwriting
9
8
8
8
8

Summary

8,5 chalices of 10 - Michael the MettleAngel

 

Headbangers Open Air Festival:

 

HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR FESTIVAL 2007
Friday July 13th - Saturday July 14th 2007 / Metal Garden, Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany

www.headbangers-open-air.de

FRIDAY JULY 13th 2007

I had only heard of Cleveland’s ETERNAL LEGACY by name, but I wasn’t familiar with their musical legacy (a 6-song EP and a couple of compilation appearances) to date. The band had been picked up by Auburn Records in the meantime, and their The Coming Of The Tempest debut full-length CD was released to coincide with this, their first ever European appearance. As I’ve enjoyed all bands on Auburn thus far, I wasn’t exactly worried that I wouldn’t enjoy ETERNAL LEGACY’s set. I was a little surprised to find out that the band’s material wasn’t only in the epic metal vein, but also pretty progressive. At least during the first four songs : Rise Of Daemon, Realm Of Wind And Ice, Time Out Of Mind and Cyberplague. All well above the 5’ mark, and including some interesting keyboard parts courtesy of classically trained 14-year (!) old Spencer Phillips. For the last three songs a change was in order : vocalist/guitarist Jason Vanek concentrated on the vocals only from Fires Wrath onwards. And for the last two songs (Metal Anvil and Shadow Of Revolution) bassist Josh Gatka became the second guitarist and Spencer became the bassist. All of this to enable the band to play some of their more metallic material as well. I can’t help but wonder which direction ETERNAL LEGACY will head for on future releases, but my first impression was more than positive.

 

www.Metal-Rules.de:

 

This young talented group from Ohio, USA (Keyboarder Spencer Philips is only 15 years old but already knows how to play his instrument masterly) delivers Epic Power Metal of highest quality on an extraordinary technical level. This debut album is mainly founded on the crushing down-to-earth guitar sound of the brothers Jason Vanek who also contributes the vocals and lead guitarist Shaun Vanek who among others also wields the axe for the brilliant WRETCH and who literally takes apart his six-string from time to time (if you have been to the Headbangers Open Air this year you know what I mean...). Bassist Josh Gatka and the great drummer Steve Dukuslow complete the deep impression these complex Power songs leave on the listener. It's hard to point out single highlights but "Realm Of Wind And Ice" and "Metal Anvil" are two tracks you should check out by all means.
>If you can imagine a mixture of SYMPHONY X and EYEFEAR with a slight dose of old DREAM THEATER this one's a Must for you, a gem for every demanding Metalhead. And I guess we all hopefully have a good sense of taste, don't we? Check out the band's homepage www.LegacyMetal.com and be convinced by this tempest of steel on www.myspace.com/officialeternallegacy.
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>IronIngo