Rise up Children Of Bodom and In Flames fans... there we go, I just wanted to make sure I've got everyone's attention before I start reviewing this bombastic release ! :)

Now someone must explain to me the secret of these northern European bands cause they're slowly but surely taking over the German domination, although the black/death scene always have been very active there, but lately with bands like Children Of Bodom, Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Nightwish and so many mores that are in the top 3 of their own style and that's impressive. Plus I heard that girls there are so cute.... ooops, maybe I'm drifting a little bit here... hehe, back to business with this record that is really worth your attention my friends.

The music could be described as an hybrid of Children Of Bodom (for the melodic parts / tempo changes) with In Flames (aggressivity) and of course some twists then and there that makes ETOS (Eternal Tears...) an original band with a sound of it's own. The music drift sometimes between death and black metal... and I must say that some of the black metal moments tend to be too "noisy" for me. When the instruments melt to make a unique sound and melody disappear, that's where I use the word noisy, I don't mean to be insulting, but just to explain you instead where my limits are in these styles (black/death/gothic/...). So fortunately the music is more melodic than everything else and these moments appears only a few seconds on a couple of tracks. Guitars riffs and solos are excellent and remind me Sonata Arctica or Stratovarius. The vocal is a mix of In Flames and Brimstone I would say, so a screamy guttural voice.

The arrangements are simply majestic, keyboards, piano (oh-my-god !), some female vocal (oh-my-god too!) parts then and there add a plus to some songs to an overall already very convincing. Sometimes you get some very slow moments. During these almost only piano leads the way and this is a good and original touch, it give your mind a few seconds to rest before the destructive yet melodically beautiful musical skill of ETOS takes over again.

The album really bears the perfect name to describe itself, Chaotic Beauty, and that's exactly what's presented to you here, which makes me feel like my previous description of the CD could have been avoided... hehe.

Now, one must point out, myself in this case, that Spinefarm Records are simply amazing and they select their bands very well !!! I don't have a single CD from them that doesn't get a 90 minimum ! From Children Of Bodom to Sonata Arctica, passing by Throne Of Chaos (Spikefarm, but it's the same company if I'm not mistaken). These are all killer bands ! It just feels like I can just buy a CD blindly when I see Spinefarm as label.

This album is a killer one, it contains some typical black metal moments that I have problem with, when things get noisy like I said before, but this reflects the chaotic property of this album and it's nothing that one can't bear, it's just that I think these few moments could have been avoided. Details aside, this melodic chaotic beautiful CD is playing all the time at my home, my car and even if neighbours already started complaining I feel it won't stop any day soon. Congratulations for bringing us Chaotic Beauty !