Style: Extreme power metal, speed metal, progressive metal (clean vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Cacophony, DragonForce, Symphony X, Firewind, Impellitteri, Gamma Ray, Obscura
Country: Germany
Release date: 6 November 2026

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What do you get when you combine the virtuosic ferocity of technical death metal with the melodic freneticism of European power metal? For years, German extreme power metal outfit Eternity’s End has been searching for the answer. Led by ex-Obscura and Necrophagist’s Christian Münzner, the band’s highly complex, adrenalized melodic arrangements combine with the aggression of Münzner’s technical death metal background to breathe new life into the genre. Now five years on from their last release, Eternity’s End has put out another blazing-fast iteration by the name of Titanblood, featuring more of the rhythmically complex, progressive power metal sound we’ve come to love from the group. The return of former keyboardist Jimmy Pitts brings back some of the symphonic elements from the first album, while the raspy delivery of new vocalist Mike Livas adds a slightly different character to the music than the more operatic style of his two predecessors. 

“The Gods of Bal-Sagoth” opens Titanblood with gorgeous acoustic guitars that lull you into a false sense of security, before slamming the car into gear with harmonized lead shredding and a furious blast-beat assault that lasts nearly two minutes before the vocals kick in. Singer Mike Livas makes himself known with a characteristic vocal technique that can be likened to a shriek, leading us through a few catchy vocal passages and into another melodic, shreddy solo. There’s no shortage of technical guitar and drumwork on display; the gang knows what they’re good at and they love to show off. The complex riffing present throughout lovingly hints at Münzner’s previous affiliations, but the choices of melodies and symphonic elements are rooted firmly within power metal. These symphonic power metal elements take centre stage on the next track, “Sword In The Storm”, with a heavily orchestrated sound featured for most of its runtime, and the title track “Titanblood” follows suit, taking a page right out of the power metal handbook with choir stabs and speedy keyboard arpeggios over sweeping strings and steady guitars.

While Eternity’s End hasn’t experimented much with their core ideas on this release, other genre influences on Titanblood stand out amidst the flamboyant swagger of their characteristically neoclassical-style harmonic minor cadences and orchestral stabs. “Eternal Winter” is the most thrash/speed metal work on the track listing, while “Gates of Eternity” features a distinct 70s prog rock influence. The short interlude “Interstellar Transmission”, meanwhile, features spacey synths floating over solo guitar, serving as something of a palate cleanser. The return of Pitts’ keyboard work adds a layer of refinement to the compositions, but new singer Mike Livas’ unique vocals steer Titanblood away from the more traditionally European sound found on previous albums. 

In a departure from the more melodic, almost operatic styles of the previous two singers, Mike Livas’ distinctive technique takes on a high-pitched rasp that’s more at home in the realm of speed or thrash metal. I found his vocals to be quite a puzzling inclusion, not always fitting the album’s neoclassical-inspired, heavily EUPM-influenced sound. It feels as if the band’s sound and the singer’s vocals pull in different directions on this release, creating a lack of consistency. While Livas can undoubtedly belt with the best of them, the dissonance between the harmonic standard of the music and the vocal style can be challenging to reconcile. However, the stellar songwriting on this release more than makes up for any gripes.

I’m curious to see if Eternity’s End intends to play Firewind and have a different singer for every era, as Titanblood is an overall great album that feels held back from downright excellence by the choice of vocalist. However, the return to the symphonic sound of their first release is a welcome treat and adds sophistication and bombast to an album that’s already approaching the redline. Titanblood is another impressive display of the kind of face-melting guitar playing and machine-gun drumming that’s sure to light a fire in the hearts of any power metal fan, and dare I say it, maybe even a few tech death and thrash metal fans.

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Recommended tracks: Titanblood, Eternal Winter, Gates of Eternity
You may also like: Diviner, Sinbreed, Christian Münzner, Adagio, Paladin
Final verdict: 8/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Scarlet Records

Eternity’s End is:
– Mike Livas (vocals)
– Christian Münzner (guitars)
– Justin Hombach (guitars)
– Jimmy Pitts (keyboards)
– Linus Klausenitzer (bass)
– Hannes Grossmann (drums)