THE BEAST

 Kekal - Eternitarian: The Essential Kekal 1995—2022 - Reviewed By fullmetalmayhem ! Check it out here at this link: https://fullmetalmayhem.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/kekal-mit-eternitarian/

Band name and album title: Kekal with Eternitarian

Genre: Avant Garde Metal, whatever the hell that's supposed to be.

Release date and label: This compilation will be self-published on March 3, 2023.

Other band releases: This will be their fifth compilation, plus they have released 13 albums, 13 singles, four EPs, two demos and a video.

How did I get to know the band: This musical mammoth, which some music students probably came up with, sent me the Metal Devastation Radio.

How do I like the disc: I have no idea what to make of it. It's certainly interesting, but like some bands where Man crams avant-garde into the genre, this three-hour monster doesn't really tie into any genre or even style. Partly it sounds like Symphonic Black Metal like Dimmu Borgir or Cradle of Filth, then again like Power Metal and all that in the same song. Or they mix their metal with jazz and funk. In addition, there are always electronic passages that completely tear me away as soon as I think I have found my way into the style. So here I am absolutely stumped as to what the whole thing is about. I could also just list all the genres that are hidden somewhere in this compilation monster, but then you, my readers, wouldn't be much smarter.

The closest thing I can come close to a favorite for me is NEUTRALITY, not because it's bad, but more because I don't get it. The song sounds like nasty Black/Death Metal, but somehow a computer has crept in that keeps giving feedback that it's doing something. And that's just the first few minutes, after that it gets even more spaced out.

MEAN ATTRACTION can also be counted among the more conventional songs that don't go too against the listening habits of most of my readers. Here, too, there is a clear impact of Black Metal, as played by Dimmu Borgir.

ROTTING YOUTH is one of the best songs on this compilation. Black Metal is fired from all guns here plus some polished guitar lines to keep music students happy too.

Conclusion: Really interesting, but not mine. For me there is too much confusion of styles, sometimes also in the songs. There's sure to be someone out there who enjoys it, but the three songs mentioned are the only ones I enjoy. You can listen here if I've piqued your interest: fullmetalmayhem

Release Date: 03 / 03 / 2023

FFO: Soleluna, Replicant, Veilburner

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

"Eternitarian" is a best-of compilation album from Kekal. It features 31 tracks clocking at almost 3 hours spanning 27 years worth of Kekal's music, with select material taken from the band's entire 13 full-length albums, 3 EPs, and also their very first 1995 demo tape. Presented in this free or donation-based digital-download only release are the band’s old-time favourites as well as highlights from newer material and previously unreleased alternate-mixes.

This is a special release that has been requested frequently because there are music lovers out there that have some interest in checking out Kekal but haven't got a chance to hear the music yet (and don't know where to start), also the majority of Kekal's regular listeners tend to listen only one particular "era" of the band. "Eternitarian" serves the purpose of introducing the entire Kekal's discography with highlights from every album and EPs from their 90s period to 2022. It is not only limited to work as a mere introductory sampler. It can also work as an 'essential' Kekal playlist because every track is carefully picked based on listeners' favourites and reviewers' “best picks”.

Formed in 1995 as a more straight-forward extreme metal band with punk-influenced attitude, Jakarta - Indonesia-based Kekal has been venturing deeply into the continuous exploration in creating music for over 27 years now. Their monumental 4th album "1000 Thoughts of Violence" (2003) marked the beginning of their journey into the unknown, where they successfully blend their extreme metal basic energy with the enormous amount of progressive and experimental elements, but yet somehow— accessible. For Kekal, musical exploration is considered as one important method of self-actualization and part of a spiritual journey towards expansion.

Kekal is one of the first bands/musicians from Indonesia to gain international presence in the early and mid 2000 by releasing albums in both North American and European markets, and the first band from Indonesia to tour Europe in March 2004—playing a string of live concerts in Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. Since 2009, Kekal has become a band with no official members, but its former member(s) still continue to make music and to release albums for Kekal, albeit as anonymous contributors that are not published as music performers.

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Follow the band at these links:

https://www.facebook.com/kekalofficial
https://www.instagram.com/kekalofficial
https://www.youtube.com/kekalofficial
https://kekal.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TfoHj4wkkwQIIkE48Rgy5