Beyond the Wandering Moon

Aeternus, the Norwegian dark metal band, returns with its 1997 release, Beyond the Wandering Moon. Lead singer Ares' deep, gravelly, and growling vocals are at the heart of Aeternus' signature dark metal sound, from "Sworn Revenge," with its hammering drums, to the frenetic "Vind." Many of the selections on this album are his original compositions. Yet Aeternus shows a folk influence on this album as well. Haunting keyboards permeate "Under the Blade of the Dead," while "Celtic Harp Solo" is another lovely, melodic performance. Fans of goth music may prefer the gentler, more folk-influenced side of Beyond the Wandering Moon, while avid metalheads will take to the harsher, darker cuts. Listeners who enjoy this album may also want to try another Aeternus release, ...And So the Night Became.