Band:	Eldritch
Album:	Portrait Of The Abyss Within
Style:	Power metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	May 2004

01. Muddy Clepsidra
02. Forbidden
03. The World Apart
04. This Everlasting Mind Disease
05. Pictures On The Wall
06. Dice Rolling
07. Drowning
08. Blindfolded Walkthrough
09. See You Down
10. Slow Motion "K" Us
11. Lonesome Existence
12. Shallow Waters [limited edition bonus]
13. Quiet Hope [limited edition bonus]
+ Lonesome Existence [video] [limited edition bonus]

Eldritch is back, with their first album in 3 years, and even if I didn't know Eldritch I like, looked forward to this album.
A very powerful progressive metal album was one of the highest wishes I had for the summer, even if this wasn't what I expected, it's hard not to like, at least, some songs on it.

The story of Eldritch go back all the way to 1991 when vocalist Terence Holler, guitarist & mastermind Eugene Simone and drummer Adriano Dal Canto formed Eldritch from the ashes of the band Zeus.
From the start the target was to form a band with influences like Queensrÿche, Fates Warning and even Annihilator and Coroner.
In 1992 the band was completed with bassist Martin Kyhn and Keyboarder Oleg Smirnoff (Now Vision Divine).
With two demos, one in 1992 and one in 1993 Eldritch was signed with Limb Music, even if the first albums was released under the InsideOut label.
The debut was released in 1995 and named "Seeds of Rage.
Successor was named "Headquake" and was released in 1997.
Third album came out in 1998 and got the name "El Nino".
Then came the first jump-offs, keyboarder Smirnoff and drummer Dal Canto left and the American born Dave Simone replaced the last one, and for new keyboarder Sean Henderson was chosen.
Album number four was released in 2001 and was named "Reverse" and it got quiet much criticism, because they change the sound quite much, now was Pantera, Testament & machine Head the biggest influences.
Yet again, the keyboard and bass positions became available, and after quite some time Eldritch chose to go with a female bassist, Lisa Oliviero (also Icycore). And they also decided to go without keyboarder.
And finally, after three years album no.5 was released, in May 2004 became "Portrait of the Abyss Within" available.

You could split this album intro three parts, one that's so alike the American movies soundtrack, like for Daredevil and movies, Mainstream music, the song "See You Down" and "Drowning" is good examples for that.
Then there is the powerful progressive part, which will make bands like Dream Theater and alike jealous, because the sound is really heavy and very progressive.
And the last part, the sound that I think Eldritch doing very good, it's some kind of in-between the first two sounds, it's quite mainstream but even powerful and progressive, it's like I should want Eldritch to sound like all the time, "The World Apart" is the best example.

To conclude it all, I'm guessing this is an album that will strike quite good in the states, with the right promotion, the sound is more modern and that is easier in USA than Europe, the "old continent" don't want their music "spoiled" with a lot of moderns touches.
But I guess Eldritch isn't one of Italy's biggest bands for nothing and that metal heads from Italy (at least) will buy it, but also people that liked their last album, since it's sounds like this is more like that one than their earlier ones.
I like the album, as a Powerful Progressive album, not for anything else, the modern touches is sometimes to strong, but overall it's good.

Favourite songs: "The World Apart" & "This Everlasting Mind Disease".