Review: Feather – Eternal

Style: Prog Metal, Synthwave (Instrumental)
Recommended for fans of: David Maxim Micic, Volkor X, Chris Christoudoulou, Magic Sword, I Built the Sky
Review by: Ian
Country: France
Release date: 30 September 2023

One of the things I’ve become increasingly cognizant of over my two-plus decades of listening to music is that different tunes are made for different contexts. Dynamic, lush mixes made for audiophile vinyl setups may not hit as hard when played through car speakers on a highway. A song may go in one ear and out the other as background noise while working, but absolutely destroy when played in a crowded concert hall. Perhaps the most context-dependent form of music, though, is the soundtrack. While they can certainly be gorgeously composed on their own merits, the fact of the matter is that soundtracks are, by definition, not made to stand alone. By design, they often are more atmospheric and repetitive than traditional albums, with melodic hooks used sparingly for the moments where the music takes center stage. Without the context of the media they accompany, there’s a risk that the emotional peaks and valleys won’t hit quite as hard.

These concerns were floating in my mind when I delved into Eternal, the sophomore album from French instrumentalist Anthony Stinson, aka Feather. While the album itself is (mostly) an original project, it is heavily inspired by Risk of Rain, a game series I have not played. This isn’t a matter of simple influence either- its YouTube stream directly describes it as “a Risk of Rain fan-album”, with a linked mod that enables the album’s tracks to be played in-game, and Stinson even covers one of the first game’s tracks in “Coalescence”, an unusual move for an instrumental project. As an outsider to the franchise, will Stinson’s blend of instru-prog and synthwave create a powerful listening experience in its own right, or will it simply be a pale imitation of its influences?

Thankfully, even knowing very little about the game that inspired it, Eternal is a fine piece of rock-solid instru-prog. The core of the sound on offer here is a compromise between djenty-yet-melodic riffs and dreamy synth soundscapes; think David Maxim Micic gone synthwave. Though Stinson describes his sound as a “unique sounding mess”, the influences are all tastefully balanced, with separate styles taking the lead at different points in order to keep the overall whole varied and engaging. At times, a darker synthwave style takes over, such as in “Blood is Heat” or “Eternal”, which would both feel right at home soundtracking some neon-tinted cyberpunk dystopia. Tracks like “Soul Shaft” and “The Simulacrum”, meanwhile, open with echoing synth arpeggios that call to mind the mysterious sonic atmosphere conjured by games like Tunic or Celeste. 

But Eternal seldom stays atmospheric for long, and one way or another, guitars and drums inevitably make their entrance to give each track a degree of metallic edge. The rhythm guitar work is as varied as the synths, ranging from flowing walls of sound to support the lead work (“Windblown Dream”) to punchy, downtuned riffage that can serve as the primary focus in its own right (“Shattered Frost”). Said riffage is ably supported by bass work with a tone thick and meaty enough to provide an appreciable low end without hogging the spotlight and, blessedly, real, non-programmed drums courtesy of Andrew Scott. His drumming plays a key role in adding to the immediacy of the heavier material, with crisp cymbals and just enough rhythmic complexity to keep listeners on their toes. Last but not least is the solo work, which, as with most instru-prog, is the star of the show. Not only does Stinson himself provide numerous complex yet tasteful instrumental leads on both guitar and keyboard, there are three guest features to switch up the style, my favorite of which is Sayasack Inthavong’s Guthrie Govan– esque shredding on “Shattered Frost”. Combined, these factors give a welcome dose of energy and punch to the proceedings- most notably in the Risk of Rain cover, “Coalescence”, in which the original’s soft, mysterious synth melodies and slow-burn climax are amplified to larger-than-life levels by Stinson’s chugging riffs and Scott’s walloping percussion.

Speaking of slow-burn climaxes, Eternal is excellent at constructing emotional arcs and hooks to its tunes that keep the listener engaged. Instrumental rock albums often run into the pitfall of becoming impressive yet forgettable due to the absence of the melodic and emotional structure that comes with writing lyrics and choruses to a proper song, but Feather readily overcome this, with soaring melodies aplenty and a keen understanding of how to continually ratchet the intensity of a given piece up or down in a way that makes sense musically. Whether it’s one monolithic build and release, as in opener “Windblown Dream”, or multiple shifting peaks and valleys, as in labyrinthine nine-minute jam “M.I.R.O.R.S”, layers of orchestration enter and exit seamlessly enough to avoid any jarring whiplash while continuously pushing the compositions forward. Perhaps my favorite of these moments comes towards the end of album standout “Galaxy’s Largest Snowflake”, in which a simple yet heart-stirring synth motif makes itself known above the crashing waves of guitar and percussion beneath it, growing more and more layered with guitars and evolving into a more elaborate arpeggio over a progression that intensifies until I feel ready to punch a goddamn mountain in half.

All in all, Eternal is an excellent instrumental prog album. It’s a fine example of two tastes that taste great together- the synthwave and video game soundtrack influences help the prog metal side feel unique and exciting amidst the legions of bedroom guitar virtuosos putting albums into the void, while the heavier guitar and drum work lends dynamic heft and a feeling of stakes to the vibey synth landscapes. I will concede that despite its wealth of musical ideas and ability to make repeated motifs feel fresh, the album is a tad bit longer than it needs to be at 68 minutes, and by the time I reach tracks like “P.A.D” I get the sense that, well-executed though it may be, it’s just going over musical territory the album’s already explored. But all is forgiven by the time we reach the appropriately-titled closer “Desolation”. The least heavy track on the album, it focuses instead on building layers upon layers of elegiac yet hopeful-sounding atmosphere, and the slow, weeping guitar leads at its climax never fail to send chills up my spine. Like the best roguelikes, Eternal feels slightly different each time I go through it, revealing new layers on each play, and my only complaint is that it’s a bit too much of a good thing. I highly recommend fans of instrumental prog to check it out, whether or not you’re familiar with the game that inspired it. Hell, it may even inspire me to dig Risk of Rain out of my Steam library- I know it’s in there somewhere…

Recommended tracks: Windblown Dream, Galaxy’s Largest Snowflake, Shattered Frost, Desolation
You may also like: Leviathan Owl, Gloom Influx, Zack Brannon, Etrange
Final verdict: 8.5/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Feather is:
– Anthony Stinson (guitars, bass, keyboards)

with
– Andrew Scott (drums)