Kev Rowland Eternal Deformity was founded in 1993, and originally started life as a doom band, but continually strived to push across boundaries and the five year gap between ‘The Serpent Design’ in 2007 and this their 2012 release seems to have allowed them to do just that. Various discussions can be had on whether this is extreme prog metal, melodic symphonic death or a combination of the two with black metal thrown in can last for days – it just shows how music often doesn’t want to fit into the little boxes that we strive to put them into. The one thing I can be sure of is that here is an album of epic proportions. Even on first play one realises that this is much more than just another album, and that there is something special contained within, and that feeling only grows the more time that is spent getting to know the music.

This is complex complicated music where everyone has an important part to play, yet is tight and incredibly heavy all at the same time. But these guys refuse to conform to any expected norm so “Pestilence Claims No Higher Purpose” starts withy a sublime piano introduction before all hell breaks loose and the band cut loose. Within the same song there is a total change of direction with a small touch of doom and a different style of vocals. The atmosphere created in this one song is just incredible, as they twist and turn and use clean and gruff vocals to create a world all of their own. It is possible to get lost inside this album; just play it loud and the world will pass you by. This is a stunning piece of work. www.code666.net

adg211288 The Beauty of Chaos is the fifth album by Polish act Eternal Deformity. The 2012 album is my first encounter with them, and it’s also their first release since 2007’s Frozen Circus. Although what I’ve read about the band would have me believe I should be expecting some kind of avant-garde hybrid of doom and melodic death metal, this isn’t really the case on The Beauty of Chaos. The melodic death part is certainly true enough, but it’s spiced with more progressive flavours than it is avant-garde, and I don’t detect anything to do with doom metal about the release. It does however draw on symphonic sounds a fair bit.

But misconceptions aside, Eternal Deformity creates an interesting sound on The Beauty of Chaos. The arrangements of the tracks are interesting and complex with symphonic keyboards used to effect with the guitars without being overbearing and there is progressive implementation aplenty. The songs are generally over the six minute mark with the exception of the first two, the very first of which is an intro. Drawn out instrumental passages are to be expected. Additionally the group uses three distinct vocal styles, done between two vocalists, so expect clean vocals along with both high and low growling. The low growls put me firmly in mind with death metal while the high growls wouldn’t sound out of place in a number of styles. The clean vocals are technically the weakest of the three styles but fit with the group’s music well enough, creating a kind of melancholic sound that works to especially great effect during the lighter sections of Eternal Deformity’s music. Overall it’s quite the atmospheric experience, heavy, yet without an in your face level of intensity and always melodic.

Compositionally we’re talking something pretty interesting. The Beauty of Chaos is one of those albums that grabbed me right from the off and refused to let go after that. While I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s an album where all songs can be considered highlights in their own right, it maintains a consistently high level of quality with the odd track pushing their boundaries right up to the highest levels. The earliest example of them doing just that is the track Lifeless but distinction of being a standout can also be applied to Caught Out Lying and the epic closer The Holy Decay. With the exception of the intro track, although it is better than most, The Beauty of Chaos is highly enjoyable from start to finish.

The Beauty of Chaos is an excellent album that I’m sure will have a pretty wide appeal among metal fans. Their mix of influences from three styles blends together in such a natural way that I find it impossible not to get drawn in. Overall it’s about borderline between being great and exceptional, but I think an exceptional rating is just about deserved.

8.5/10

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org))