Eternal Rest - Seize of Anubis EP (2009)

Can one ever have enough Egyptian flavored death metal? Not according to Australians Eternal Rest, a young band that has delivered a promising debut EP. It may not be a novel concept these days, but Seize of Anubis is a well-structured introduction to the band's brand of immersive riffing and energetic brutality.

With 5 tracks in 24 minutes, Eternal Rest easily prove themselves. The key here is how the band manages to weave the ethnic rhythms of their theme into the metal itself, much like Melechesh (or the better Nile songs). "Temple" is a cool intro with a good classic metal riff over some Egyptian samples, which slowly builds up heaviness. "Where the Ancient Gods Lay" is a rager with winding melodic rhythms over brutal, bludgeoning vocals. A few of the riffs in the bridge feel mildly messy, but not for lack of note selection. The title track is a short but sweet burst of energy, with a maturity to its melody and atmosphere. "Falling From Your Throne" is fast and infectious, like a cobra coiled to strike some foolish snake charmer. "Carnage" has some punching grooves and more of the band's flavorful riffs. "Pawn in This Life of Dominance" is an earlier demo track, though the production is a little more fretful and raw, it fits in well with the newer material and has an incredible riff in there behind the second verse.

For an independent release, Seize of Anubis sounds clean without losing any of its ethnic menace. The sky is really the limit for a young band of this caliber, there will be many comparisons drawn to Nile, yet the writing here is a little simpler and more accessible.

Verdict: Win [7.5/10]

http://www.myspace.com/eternalrestband