Return to Darkness – Eternal

Return to Darkness – Eternal

After more than two decades in the shadows, Return to Darkness have come back swinging with Eternal, an album that proves thrash metal isn’t just alive, it’s thriving. Rebuilt from the ashes of their ’90s outfit Out of Darkness, the band’s long awaited reunion has resulted in a record that is as fierce as it is precise, capturing both the raw chaos of classic thrash and the refinement of seasoned musicians who know exactly what they’re doing.

From the opener “Eternal Chain”, the intent is clear, this is a full force assault. The riffs are sharp, the rhythm section pounds with precision, and the vocals cut through with venom. Tracks like “Pain” and “Quarter to Ten” strike with the kind of immediacy fans crave, tight, furious, and unrelenting. Meanwhile, “White Sea” and “Another World” inject melody without sacrificing intensity, reminding listeners that thrash doesn’t need to be one dimensional.

Produced and engineered by guitarist Jon “J Rod” Ciorciari, Eternal boasts a mix that’s clean without losing grit. Every riff, snare crack, and bass punch lands with purpose, while Jamie King’s mastering gives the record clarity and weight. It’s a sound that honors the band’s thrash lineage, think Ride the Lightning-era Metallica meets Reign in Blood aggression, while forging its own identity.

Eternal has absolute balance. It doesn’t feel like a band chasing nostalgia — it feels like five musicians finally realizing a vision that was left unfinished decades ago. There’s hunger in these songs, and that hunger translates into one of the most authentic thrash releases of 2025.

Return to Darkness haven’t just returned, they’ve arrived with an album that should cement their place in the modern thrash conversation.

Eternal lives up to its fkn name.