Swedish Death Metal outfit Furnace return with Eternally Enthroned, their sixth full-length in just six years. Given that Furnace is my current favourite Rogga project, this makes me rather happy, especially with the fact that he has met his match with lyricist Peter Svensson, who clearly shares Rogga’s voracious desire to create and long may it continue.
Furnace – Eternally Enthroned
Release Date: 30 May 2025
Words: Jools Green
Peter and Rogga are once again joined by Lars Demoké on drums, and this release also sees the return of two guest vocalists who also featured on the epic release from 2023, the three-disc offering The Casca Trilogy.
Benediction’s Dave Ingram delivers, once again, a powerfully impactful spoken word element, while backing vocals are courtesy of Magnus Hultman from Cult Of The Fox.
For anyone unfamiliar with the Furnace sound, it follows in the strong tradition of melodic Death Metal in the style of the heavily influential Dan Swanö’s former Progressive Death Metal outfit Edge Of Sanity, combined with elements of UK Gothic Death/Doomsters Paradise Lost.
As always with Furnace albums, lyrically, Eternally Enthroned is a full-on concept album. “This time the story is a high fantasy narrative,” they say. “The story follows our hero Thornblade, who, after a failed assassination of the Tyrant King, is forced on a quest to seek out the Goddess Of Death and convince her to spare the King from his inevitable demise.
“To achieve this, Thornblade must find the ancient weapon Godsbane, which can slay deities. Thornblade succeeds in his quest, yet the gift from the Goddess is a double-edged sword since the Tyrant King receives immortality but only as long as he physically remains on his throne.
“In time, all around him either desert him or die, leaving him alone and Eternally Enthroned.”
I am a big fan of all the previous offerings, but there are always favourites within collections. For me, it is 2020’s Dark Vistas and The Casca Trilogy. Now Eternally Enthroned is up there with those two offerings, partly because there are aspects that I feel reflect back to those releases as well as being, in its own right, a hugely engaging, well-created and powerfully delivered album that hugely impacted me from the first listen.
The album opens on Tyrant’s Reign which sets the scene, mapping out the nature of this oppressive leader with no regard for his starving subjects who live in fear of his wrath. The intro delivers that welcomingly familiar riff style that is unmistakably Furnace. This is an up-tempo, engaging piece musically, the necessary sinister undercurrent coming from both the lyrical content and Rogga’s deep and brutal vocal snarls, delivering an always excellent clarity of content. The effect is bolstered by Magnus and Peter’s backing chants of “A Tyrant’s Reign.”
Continuing on with Crow Warriors, this has a superb haunting melodic repeat that I can lose myself in. It is reflective and hugely engaging, with the mood changing to something a little darker, more sinister. With a chugging drive for A Good Tree For Hanging, with dramatic yells echoing from the background, the riffs turning sharper, faster and more intense towards the close.
Next, an initially slower and more reflective piece that builds in gradual increments in the shape of Thornblade. I love the groovy heavy chug that dominates this track. You still get an element of those familiar haunting Furnace riffs tying this piece to the others and Rogga’s protractions to his delivery add to the mood and atmosphere.
Thornblade disquietingly closes on David Ingram’s spoken word passage as the narrator, describing, in no uncertain terms to Thornblade that, in order to live, he must accept the quest to seek out the Goddess Of Death and find the sword, Godsbane.
The next piece, Island Of The Decaying Angel, sees our hero heading to the eerie mist-covered shores of the Island. Musically, it may be up-tempo, groovy and hugely engaging, but the lyrics start to unravel a far more unnerving side. The quest for the ancient weapon begins with the next piece, Godsbane, continuing in that familiar up-tempo groove, balanced by Rogga’s growling delivery.
The pace quickens with Beyond The Valley. A low-profile driving chug courses the length of the track, driven by Lars’ catchy drum work and Rogga’s vocal snarls coursing above.
With extra depth from the backing choral vocals, in contrast, there is an all the more eerie and reflective pace to Fathom The Depths of Night, adding a suspenseful atmosphere. A very engaging and contemplative piece.
The final two pieces see the Goddesses’ promise come to fruition. Firstly, A Blessing And A Curse, where although saved and now immortal, the Tyrant King realises the gravity of this situation. Musically, it has a very reflective sound, fitting the lyric perfectly. Haunting, contemplative and powerfully engaging, it is one of my favourite pieces across this album.
Finally Eternally Enthroned, where the Tyrant King finds himself alone as all around him either desert him or die. The pace elevates, reflecting the despairing nature of the situation. The vocal delivery depicts a degree of despair, madness, and even regret. But hey, when the bad guy gets his comeuppance, it is always a happy ending, right?
Eternally Enthroned is a superb listen end to end, hugely catchy and engaging. Released on 30 May 2025 via Obelisk Polaris Productions, it is available as a preorder limited edition digipack CD or digital download from Eternally Enthroned | Furnace at Bandcamp.
There is also a very limited edition Eternally Enthroned board game, based on the album. This is available exclusively through Obelisk Polaris, featuring an original gameplay for 2-4 persons plus a digipack CD. With very few copies remaining as I type, if you want one, get in quickly.
