It is true. Somehow, the reviews over at the RMR Review desk don’t seem to match the mood of the year in question. In 2024, the reviews were somber, virulent, and abrasive when the year was in relative control. In contrast, 2025 caught itself a mellower clutch of albums over at the RMR review desk, when these endless 12 months are a fucking disaster to put it mildly.
And that mellowness manifests itself in a bunch of folk pieces and a load of often excellent doomy excursions such as this one. Good quality Metal o’ the Light also made a sturdy reappearance with famous old metal acts rushing to the forefront. Famous last words? Perhaps. They’re not getting younger after all, and death is inevitable. We all know that. Or do we?
And that brings us to an unknown band called When Nothing Remains. At least to this crew here, they’re not. Their last record aired in 2016, almost 10 years ago. But they still managed to break through our busy schedule this time and get our attention just good. Death and dying is their theme, and Echoes of Eternal Night their dark vessel to cross the Styx. This seems to be an ever-recurring theme over here. The Reticent is about to release yet another piece about death, albeit more in the prog realm. Shores of Null famously roared about it in 2020 from their wistful perch. And indeed, Echoes of Eternal Night gets you some blend of the former and a more refined version of Rise to the Sky1.
Even if When Nothing Remains won’t publish often, their fare is first-rate doom, no contest. You’ll find a tear-drenched ebb and flow of sadboi tunes often led by the measured tones of a piano or two. Sometimes this comes in masterly displays of Doom Death Metal. And all that sobbing and nose-blowing is expressed through wistful clears that easily match the (still) masters over at My Dying Bride.2 Pretty much every track marches forth majestically at mid tempo pace. And that allows the songwriting to mature and really bring this sentiment of woe to the forefront.
The tracklist is full of tasty melodies and harmonies. Followed by melodeath-esque monologues that, in best Insomnium fashion, will never gripe or feel cheesy. Instead, they integrate easily into the overall theme of forlorn melodies, flutes, the mourning cello, and measured yet powerful riffing. Echoes of Eternal Night is living proof that saddened yet soaring clears can co-exist, together with harsh growls that suddenly erupt. To perform smooth transitions from one singing style to the other ain’t no easy feat. And yet, When Nothing Remains pulled those off with seeming ease. A bit like Draconian, yet another Swedish act, but without the female touch. If that’s good or bad remains to be seen.
This record also positively gorges with great tracks. Whereof The Grim Reaper’s Tears and the excellent A Ceaseless Rain probably stand out the most. And whilst none of the tracks are bad, the ones sporting playtimes beyond 10 minutes could have been rendered way crisper through some brutal culling. And this lack of self-editing leads to sections that are indeed a bit mushier than they actually need to be.
Yet, Echoes of Eternal Night turned into a delightfully morose piece of doom in ways that only make sense to the avid doomster. Even the lengthy explanatory monologues work pretty well in the same way that alternative metallers Dawnwalker are garnishing their works of art. Every element leading to the road of greatness is there. A great theme, an outstanding arrangement in line with the storyline, a tasty and balanced blend of growls to demonstrate angst and anxiety, and the wispy clears to drive emotion. All of that leads into an amalgamation of woe, a feeling of dread that ultimately leads to that gruesome meeting with the Grim Reaper. Even if he seems to weep this time. But don’t be fooled, this won’t prevent him from using that scythe on ye. You have been warned.
Record Rating: 7/10 | Label: The Circle Music | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 21 November 2025