The Best Band in Rhode Island is Eternal Khan
Back in August 2014 we asked you to help us find the best unsigned bands in America. After listening to hundreds of submissions and calling each other lots of names, we finally narrowed down our pick for the teensiest, tiniest, itty bittiest state. The best band in Rhode Island is Eternal Khan.
Besides having a badass name, Eternal Khan are one of, if not the best band to come out of that small state that the Southies from “Bahstuhn” hate so much. This trio brings the consuming inevitably of doom and mix it with a heaping dose of ethereal black metal. T. Phrathep’s guitar rings with the type of tremolo soaked misery that conjures the heralding of legions of plague stricken malcontents shambling towards an unsuspecting village to ravage it to nothing. Bassist Nate Woods reigns as one of my favorite current vocalists in metal with a distinctive, articulate but still savage bark that compares to an undead general ordering his forsaken troops to destroy everything in sight.
Their 2012 demo and subsequent A Primitive History EP already showed a band primed to conquer the wastelands of modern metal, and the ante was upped by their full length debut A Poisoned Psalm. It was no mistake that album was put on my top 10 list of 2014. For a small sample of their musical prowess, listen to either “The Tower” with its opening clean note that bleeds melancholy and dread providing an appropriate intro to a mid paced, almost thrash-like rampage, or “Void of Light and Reconciliation” which tails off its crushing doom skeleton with some rarely utilized blasting that feels more like a sledgehammer to the stomach.
Of the thousands of young metal bands coming out of the Northeast, this trio are one of the few whose career I shall follow with fevered awe. Eternal indeed. Check out all their releases on Bandcamp and follow them on Facebook.
But don’t just take my word for it. See what some of our esteemed judges have to say:
Link Leonhart: From the beginning of the precise mysterious percussion, I knew Eternal Khan was a special band. Using the death/doom sonic palette, this three piece occult from Providence proves to everyone that the horrors still lurks and infects. The music is full of tremolos and rhythmic pummeling, so the atmosphere they produce is quite unnerving. Impressive guitar tone and very special vocal choices.
Joe Thrashnkill: Eternal…
HONORABLE MENTION:
Sangus – Blackened Thrash from Providence
The Toilet ov Hell is on an absurd quest to find the best unsigned band in each state of this glorious union. The purpose? To shine the spotlight on bands that deserve more exposure. Also, we’re going to determine once and for all the greatest state in the nation. Each state winner is decided by a collection of 25 judges. After we’ve announced the winner of each state, we’re gonna throw them all in a winner-take-all bracket and leave the votes up to you. Who will be the best unsigned band in the United States? Which state is superior? We can’t wait to find out.
Previous winners:
Alabama — Phylum
Alaska — Terraform
Arizona – Take Over And Destroy
Arkansas – Torii
California – Destroy Judas
Colorado – The Sleer
Connecticut – Autumn’s Eyes
Delaware – Sloss
Florida – Capracide
Georgia – Lost Hours
Hawaii – Darkest Path
Idaho – Rotten Hand
Illinois – Deus Ex
Indiana – Thorr-Axe
Iowa – Blizzard at Sea
Kansas – Bummer
Kentucky – Ad Infinitum
Louisiana – Withering Light
Maine – Sylvia
Maryland – Bereave
Massachusetts – Scaphism
Michigan – Blackgate
Minnesota – Noble Beast
Mississippi – Jared Moran (Yzordderrex/Uzumaki)
Missouri – Existem
Montana – Martriden
Nebraska – Borealis
Nevada – Elephant Rifle
New Hampshire – Eerie
New Jersey – Black Table
New Mexico – Void Ritual
New York – HUSH.
North Carolina – The Seduction
North Dakota – Gorgatron
Ohio – Prize the Doubt
Oklahoma – Cottonmouth
Oregon – Drouth
Pennsylvania – Burden
