allshools.de reviews 'Diaries from the gallows'
What begins with a primal scream and sounds like a mean and brutal sound orgy, emerges, in the case of Eventides "Diaries From The Gallows", as one of the best mixtures of older In Flames, Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity and bonds of Dimmu Borgir, partially Therion-like epic orchestral fillers and a lump of keyboard sounds, for a long time. To cut a long story short: An album completely after my fancy!
 
Eventide, a name which wasnīt aware to me, as they so far had only released a demo and two MCDīs, origin from Sweden, are young and ambitious, and celebrate on their first full-length album Melodic-Death Metal, to which the title of the album couldnīt suit better. The band uses almost brighter melodies as their collegues Dark Tranquillity or In Flames to their "Clayman" period, which is definately a positive point. And with "Standards Of Rebellion" a pearl hides within midway of the album, with an orchestral middle part which Christoffer Johnson couldnīt have composed better.
 
The sometimes dodgy song structures are known from their fellow countrymen Evergrey, the beginning of "The Skeleton Who Sold It's Skin" could easily origin from Dimmu Borgirīs "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant".
 
My initial scepticism towards Eventide resulted from a flood of more or less moderate bands from Sweden who, by their own information, play Melodic Death Metal. Eventide, this young and hungry band clearly stands out of this pool of other groups. And that the first full-length album got a production which can easily bear the comparison with Soilwork's "Stabbing The Drama" is another positive sidenote.
 
Strong eight points for a band which will hopefully cut their own path and can (will) evolve in the future.
 
Rating 8/10
 
Original review by Moritz for allschools.de 

Translated by Torsten Maibohm

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