Wait, The Duskfall are back?! Created in the early 00s by Mikael Sandorf, this Swedish melodic death metal outfit was one of my favorites then. Following in the Gothenburg footsteps of acts like Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, and At the Gates, Mikael Sandorf formed the band after folding another Swedish melodeath legend: Gates of Ishtar.1 After a solid outing of four albums from 2002 to 2007, the band called it quits. After much anticipation, the band returned in 2014 with Where the Tree Stands Dead. Unfortunately, it fell flat (and on deaf ears), lacking the emotion of records like Frailty and Source. Twelve years later, Sandorf is back to seek the redemption he deserves.
It sounds like there were many reasons for the band’s original demise and why Sandorf didn’t make a quick turnaround after Where the Tree Stands Dead. With numerous personal issues, loss, and no desire to play or write, The Duskfall sat on the shelf, collecting dust. That’s what makes this year’s The Everlasting Shadows different. It feels personal this time. Though it came out independently in March, I’m taking this opportunity to highlight its physical release because it’s not what you would expect from a The Duskfall comeback.
If you have followed the band at all, the opener “Entomb My Shadow” will not only bring you comfort but much surprise. From smooth guitar tone to harmonizing leads, chonky bass to percussive drums and gnarly vocals, this piece is the perfect lead-in to one of the band’s strongest outings—not to mention that classic, old Gothenburg style that permeates melodic passion from pre-chorus to chorus to climactic finale. The follow-up track, “As Our Days Are Dying,” pushes harder on intricate, harmonizing guitars, delivering multiple stop-start builds that erupt into a crushing conclusion. Unlike the opener, it presents an uplifting mood that permeates throughout the record. On first listen, the front end seemed the strongest, but over time, I realized the track order was far more strategic than a previous The Duskfall disc. Balancing darker tracks with more upbeat ones, the album fluctuates and pulses as you proceed along its concise forty-minute runway.
A few other highlights include “World of Lies,” “Golem,” and the closing “The Peacemaker.” The first takes a page out of Mors Principium Est, firing on all cylinders and single-handedly ripping apart 2014’s comeback record. But for all its ferocity, the finale is set up by beautiful, clean guitars that play off each other before the chorus erupts. “Golem” is a monstrous number with chunky riffage and bulldozer drums. Beyond the swirling guitars in the passionate chorus, this track never lets up, showcasing some vicious vox from Sandorf. The closer is an odd duck that I have to mention only because I’ve never heard it from the band. While not the record’s best, this short piece goes fucking full-blown Hypocrisy, alternating concussive death licks with crushing emotion.
To say The Everlasting Shadows was a pleasant surprise would be an understatement—especially for a band that has come and gone without much appreciation over the years. Before my days of judging albums, I could force every new The Duskfall record into my wheelhouse, and I fell in love with them. With the cloud lifted over these years of inactivity, I can say The Everlasting Shadows is Sandorf’s masterpiece. The attention to detail, the impressive guitar work, the surprising production—it’s a pleasure to relive those Gothenburg days without the staleness that comes with it. If you have been looking for a reason to return to the aughts, this is it. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, educate yourself.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: The Circle Music
Websites: theduskfallthecirclefamily.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/theduskfallsweden
Releases Worldwide: November 7th, 2026
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