Review: “Shades Of Existence” by Forsaken Eternity

Four long years after we were graced by the presence of their seminal 2022 album “A Kingdom Of Ice” Portland, Oregon natives Forsaken Eternity return with EP “Shades Of Existence” however all is not as it seems. The band has been stripped to the bare essentials with the writing partnership of multi instrumentalist Vladislav Gayko and lyricist vocalist Nathan Mote intact. They’re joined by session drummer Pierce Williams throughout while keyboardist Brian Rush performs on a pair of songs, the duo both of Skeletal Remains fame in the studio, the question for another day is what that means for live performances.

Technical Melodic Death Metal riffs of the highest order from multi instrumentalist Vladislav Gayko fly across the night sky like shooting stars as “Adrift In A Twisted Ethereal” bursts into flames, their blistering pace and vibrant energy taking us back the the bands previous album like they never left the studio. Keyboard sorcery adds another spellbinding layer pushing the sonic creation to new levels of epic grandeur as former Skeletal Remains drummer Pierce Williams hammers this way through the material like a blacksmith in Satan’s workshop. The snarls of Nathan Mote then add a sinister quality to the inter-dimensional sounds, his voice a stark contrast the fast and intricate melodies yet providing a weight and gravity as the track plays out.

There are shades of Nekrogoblikon in the opening refrains of “Whispers From The Moon” which finds Gayko and Mote joined by keyboardist Brian Rush, the presence of the former Skeletal Remains musician helping the pair reach hitherto unheard new heights. His parts give the cut a John Carpenter science fiction horror movie feel, something which is only added to by the spoken word part from Mote which sends a shiver down the spine. The musicianship on this one is incredible, the interplay between the guitars and keys elevating the song to another realm of existence.

Rush also works his magic on “Celestial Witch“, Mote’s vicious throat splitting vocals the single heaviest element, his voice sounding like the winds of plague. A tale of a presence of dread haunting a vast landscape, this one is another that defies all the odds to sound both epic and majestic, despite some raw ugliness. Curiously title track “Shades Of Existence” feels more like an introduction piece than a grand finale, perhaps warning of dark days to come as the cosmic synths swirl, the spoken word adding to the cinematic quality of the piece before a final scream… [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Adrift In A Twisted Ethereal
2. Whispers From The Moon
3. Celestial Witch
4. Shades Of Existence

“Shades Of Existence” by Forsaken Eternity is out 25th September 2026 via Rottweiler Records