Darkest Hour - The Eternal Return

by itemvn  |  February 23, 2011

The Eternal Return is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Darkest Hour released on June 23, 2009 through Victory Records. The album was produced by Brian McTernan (Senses Fail, Thrice, From Autumn To Ashes) who had previously produced Darkest Hour's debut album The Mark of the Judas in 2000. This album will also fulfill the band's contract with Victory, making it their last release through the label.

The band hoped to make The Eternal Return an aggressive metal album with "no hidden agenda, no pop hit, or stylistic departure to broaden the fan base." Schleibaum described the album as having the "aggression and speed" of 2003's Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation, the "melody and songwriting" of 2005's Undoing Ruin, and the "technicality and musicianship" of 2007's Deliver Us.

Allmusic gave the album four stars, calling it a "very solid metalcore/melodic death metal album" and that "Just about every other song here, though, features a hooky riff and a memorable -- if not "catchy" in the traditional pop chart sense—chorus".

The Eternal Return sold 4,700 copies in its first week of release, allowing the album to peak at 104 on the Billboard 200.