Detailed Reviews [Eternal Wanderers - 2016 - "The Mystery of the Cosmic Sorrow"]

Prolusion. Russian band ETERNAL WANDERERS were formed by Elena and Tatyana Kanevskaya in 1997. For a number of years they remained the only permanent members of the band, but at some point they solidified into a quartet of musicians that have remained the core of the band ever since. The band have three albums to their name so far. "The Mystery of the Cosmic Sorrow" is the most recent of these, and was released through Russian label MALS Records in 2016.

Analysis. Eternal Wanderers is a band that appear to live up to their name quite a lot, as this third album of their is one that deviates quite a bit from their previous production, as well as being an expressive and highly ambitious creation that doesn't stay put in any specific style or approach. In the world of music, a creation like this one will easily earn the description eclectic. There are certain key groupings of compositions though, you might say, material that have some strong identity marks that makes it possible to separate them in a more or less easily identifiable manner. One such group of tracks is the music that kicks off this album, material where cosmic and electronic elements are in the driver seat. At times reminding ever so slightly of a band like Ozric Tentacles, in other parts perhaps closing in a bit more on the German progressive electronic traditions. Cosmic sounds and effects defining one outer boundary of these creations, sequencers the opposite part of it. Flavoring these creations are gentler neo-progressive laced sequences, harder edged passages bordering metal, more dramatic instrument details with more of a symphonic intent and even some nods towards jazz and jazzrock here and there. Arguably with some folk music details as the icing on the cake, alongside the psychedelic atmosphere that rather comes natural when visiting cosmic territories. A second group of tracks shies away from the more electronic and cosmic tendencies, but otherwise retains the greater majority of the additional features found on the first defined group of tracks. More founded on and oriented towards rock music landscapes in general, but pretty much just as eclectic. The greater majority of the tracks featuring lead vocals can be found in this group of cuts from this double CD production, and the lead vocals is an asset to this band. Slightly accented, but otherwise just about impeccable. A third group of tracks here is in truth only represented by one composition. The 23 minutes plus item named The End of The Satellite Age. The eclectic aspects of the band is firmly in place here as well, and in general this one is closer to the first group of tracks on this album. What sets it apart are the recurring passages that come with firm nods in the direction of classical symphonic music. In essence, I experience this creation as just that, a classical symphonic composition at heart, given a liberal flavoring of a great variety of additional aspects from all across the progressive rock universe. This is a well made production of this kind, and an album of this particular nature isn't one you come across all that often either. Perhaps not quite a striking as the band's previous album, but certainly more ambitious and more adventurous on just about all levels.

Conclusion. If you haven't come across this double CD by Eternal Wanderers yet, "The Mystery of the Cosmic Sorrow" is a production many should take a closer look at. It may not have the widest general appeal, but at least among those who tend to enjoy a band being expressively eclectic, this is a production that most certainly merits a spin or three. A captivating, and in some respects, unique album by a modern day progressive rock band.

Progmessor: March 25th, 2018
The Rating Room