Black Sites' fifth album, 'For Eternity', showcases their signature style with arena-sized guitar licks and Mark Sugar's raspy vocals. While it delivers on these fronts, the album feels more like a lateral step rather than an evolution of their sound. The highs reached in 'For Eternity' warrant a listen, but they're unlikely to remain in the listening rotation for eternity. The album's strengths include groovy riffs, vocal hooks, and melodic harmonies, but it doesn't quite stir my inner heavy metalhead as I had hoped. The band's ability to shift between hard-hitting grooves, subtle acoustics, and lamenting harmonies results in a dynamic listen, but they could have pushed their sound further into progressive territories. Overall, 'For Eternity' is a solid release, but it's a bit disappointing as a lateral step rather than an evolution of their sound. Recommended tracks include 'Aquarius Betrayed', 'Above Soil Beneath Sky', and 'Blades (For the Chosen One).' The band's lineup includes Mark Sugar (vocals and guitar), José Salazar (bass), Chris Black (drums), and Lee Smith (guitar), with guest drummer Vladimir 'Kebac' Ruzicic.
