The third full-length from Severed Angel shows the band continuing to refine their melodic heavy metal that pays homage to past legends with an updated sound and approach.
In a truly modern way, the origin story for the Northeast US band Severed Angel is built around podcasts. The Rat Salad Review from drummer Wayne Noon started in 2018 and another guitarist Lou Mavs started The Music is Life podcast in 2019. Wayne was also the drummer for Phoenix Reign who was playing shows in Queens, NY where Lou lived and the two became friends and Wayne asked Lou to co-host The Rat Salad Review podcast. Fast forward to 2020 when Wayne and Lou decided to cover Van Halen’s “Atomic Punk” as a tribute to late guitarist Eddie Van Halen and the cover received a positive response. In early 2022, Wayne suggested to Lou they form a new band and brought on Nightmare Stage keyboardist Marc Munchnik and Infinite Spectrum bassist Alex Repetti. The newly formed group recorded a song originally written as entrance music for Lou’s cousin, MMA fighter Robby Plotkin and Angel Severed was born. By May 2023 the band’s self-titled debut was released and the second album Skyward a year later in May 2024. For When Eternity Ends, the band signed to No Life Til Metal records and the album was produced by guitarist/vocalist Alex Repetti and the band with Alex handling mixing and mastering.
The artwork for When Eternity Ends is pretty amazing with the dark figure of what looks to be an avenging angel armed with swords descending ominously and the opening intro track with the symphonic elements and ethereal vocals from Gail Bourque build tension beautifully. So given this, I was a bit taken aback by the next track “Through the Eyes of Time”. Production is very clean but the vocals and keyboards overpower the guitars in the mix (even in headphones) and their brighter tone seemed at odds with the cover art and my expectations. The vocals from Alex Repetti are strong and the soaring parts are pretty amazing and the song moves forward much like mid-tempo power metal songs and should sound in general very familiar to power metal fans in terms of structure. “Cry Out to the World” continues in a similar vein with keyboards dominating much of the overall sound and feel of the song, which eventually ventures into near power ballad territory.
“Shed” shows the band going in a faster, darker direction and is the first song which caught my attention. Alex Repetti’s vocals in the verse sections and chorus are darker and a bit gritty, working well with the guitar riffs. I could do without the higher register bridge sections but that’s likely just a personal quirk for me. I will say that the guitar solo here seems a bit less in line with the song than previous solos and almost like what often happens with guest musicians who record at the end. Much to my happiness, “Like Lightning” continues the darker, faster theme with Alex Repetti’s vocals taking on a definite like you would hear from Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) at least in the verses. Wayne Noon’s drum work pounds relentlessly through the song and the guitar solos here fit really well and add a touch of unpredictability which is very welcome.
“Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” returns a bit to the older song formula on the album with keyboard and clean/soaring vocals dominating, but for this song it’s a bit different and it really reminds me a bit of Rainbow from the Street of Dreams era, which is never a bad thing. Add in a catchy chorus, some good electronic elements sparingly used and another well-structured guitar solo and you and you have another great track.
“The Demon’s Alive” really turns this album on its head with the deep growled vocals and guitar dominated sound and is more of what I was expecting from all the songs given the cover. Alex Repetti still has clean vocals and some soaring parts but musically, the guitar riffs are dirtier, keyboards not leading but accenting, and again Wayne Noon’s drum work drive the song. Opening of “In My Skin” is the dirtiest riff on the album and when coupled with Alex Repetti channeling Dave Mustaine again works really well until the rap part starts, which seems totally out of place in 2025. The album closes out with the title track, what I’m labeling a power ballad and a bit of a let down from where the second half of the album was headed.
When Eternity Ends is only the third full-length from a band that had its first release just 3 years ago, so the band is being prolific for sure compared to most bands who don’t come close to this schedule. I like the direction the songs on the album were heading and the heavier, darker songs feel more comfortable for the band and less forced. I do almost feel as if this was two different ep’s combined from different eras of the band as the songs seem that different to me, which made listening through the album a challenge as I wanted to skip ahead. Musicianship and performances are strong but it did seem to me some of the guitar work was overshadowed in some songs. Even with the unevenness, fans of melodic heavy metal/power metal will find a lot to like on When Eternity Ends.
Rating: 7/10
Written by John Jackson
Tracklist
1. The Fall of Rain (feat. Gail Bourque)
2. Through the Eyes of Time
3. Cry Out to the World
4. Shed
5. Like Lightning
6. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
7. The Demon’s Alive
8. In My Skin
9. One Life to Live
10. When Eternity Ends
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Record Label: No Life Til Metal Records, 2025
Band Members
Alex Repetti – Vocals, Guitar, Programming and Orchestration on “The Fall of Rain”
Lou Mavs – Guitar
George Dimitri – Bass Guitar
Marc Muchnik – Keyboards
Wayne Noon – Drums
Weblinks
Bandcamp: https://severedangel.bandcamp.com/album/when-eternity-ends
Band site: https://severedangel.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@severedangel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeveredAngelBand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/severedangelband
X: https://twitter.com/severed_angel_
Video for “Through the Eyes of Time”