Into Eternity
The Incurable Tragedy
Century


The previous album from Canadians Into Eternity (2006's 'The Scattering Of Ashes') was an interesting, yet ultimately frustrating album. Drawing from a wide and diverse range of metal influences, ultimately this proved to be the album's Achilles' heel. Despite some fine moments, ultimately there was just too much going on, making for a confusing listen.

New album 'The Incurable Tragedy' still adds elements of thrash, death and power metal to a progressive metal template, but it is an altogether more focused album than its predecessor. A concept album, the titular "incurable tragedy" refers to the recent passing of guitarist and songwriter Tim Roth's father and two close friends, each of whom succumbed to cancer. It is a deeply personal, passionate and at times harrowing album, in the vein of Dream Theater's 'Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence'.

There are moments when the sense of helpless anger at this most indiscriminate and cruel disease is palpable, particularly in the galloping, Maiden-esque Symptoms and the snarling, vicious and aptly titled Indignation. Elsewhere on A Black Light Ending and Time Immemorial , Into Eternity continue to display their prowess with melody and soaring, memorable choruses.

The cornerstones of the album are The Incurable Tragedy trilogy of songs, each subtitled with particular dates including the day on which Roth's father was first diagnosed and the day of his passing. The first installment is a plaintive piano-based ballad. The second is also a ballad but this time more reflective, while the final piece is a melancholy instrumental full of sadness and loss.

Roth and his Into Eternity colleagues have channeled their grief into making something memorable. A fine album and tribute, which it can only be hoped has provided some measure of closure for its writer.

James McKenzie