There are at least nine artists that have used this name:
1) An all-female R&B group from London, England
2) A doom metal band from Dorset, England
3) A shoegazing band from Reading, England
4) A gothic metal band from Australia, see The Eternal
5) A gothic death metal band from Colombia
6) A hardcore/death metal band with only one known release
7) A death metal band from France
8) A black metal band from Uruguay
9) A thrash metal band from Costa Rica
10) A progressive house/techno artist from Australia (real name Mark James)
1) Eternal was a London based 1990s R&B girl group that found fame in 1993 and went on to become one of the UK's most successful girl groups of all time, achieving both domestic and global success.
The group was made up of church-going sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett and school friends Kéllé Bryan and Louise Nurding (also known as Louise and Louise Redknapp), who both went to the famous Italia Conti Academy stage school.
They were the first girl group to have a million selling album in UK Chart History with 1994's "Always & Forever", and were named Best Group at 1993's Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. Following the success of this album, Louise left to pursue a solo career, and the group continued as a 3-piece.
The group's second album, "Power Of A Woman", was released in 1996 and spawned 4 Top Ten Hits. The same year they were asked to sing the theme for Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Someday". The song was used as the official theme for the film in all countries except the US where All 4 One took the honours.
Their 3rd album, "Before The Rain" was released in 1997 and spawned their first and only number one single "I Wanna Be The Only One" with Bebe Winans for which they also earned a MOBO award. The album also spawned the Top 5 hit "Angel Of Mine" which was recorded by Monica for the American market.
Kelle Bryan quit the group for a short lived solo career in 1998 leaving just the Bennett sisters operating under the Eternal moniker. They released one further single as a duo, 1999's "Whatcha Gonna Do" which achieved only minor success and a critically-aclaimed but ultimately unsuccessful self-titled 4th album. They were dropped by EMI in 2000.
Eternal never managed to crack the US market, despite a Top 20 hit "Stay", however they have reached global sales in excess of 9 million units.
2) Eternal was a '70s inspired doom metal project of Dorset, UK's Jus Oborn which followed his stints in Lord Of Putrefaction and Thy Grief Eternal in the early nineties. The group recorded one four track demo in the summer of '93 before Oborn recruited Tim Bagshaw and Mark Greening and formed the now legendary Electric Wizard.
3) Eternal is a short-lived band on Sarah Records 1989 in Reading, England. They released one single "Breathe" in 1990. Even though only 2000 copies of the single were pressed and the band only ever played one gig, they were credited to being heavily influencial to shoegaze bands to follow.
One last Eternal song, "remember", was recorded by christian savill and other members of slowdive during the souvlaki recordings in 1992. Sadly, it never saw release.
Slowdive also went on to cover the song "Sleep" with rachel goswell on vocals, but was also never officially released.
- Christian Savill (Slowdive): guitar/vocals
- Stuart Wilkinson: bass guitar
- Michael Warner: drums
Other members involved with recording and their only gig were:
- Sean Hewson - guitar
- Alan Bryden - cello
- Darren Seymour - guitar/vocals
4) Mid-2003 saw the formation of Melbourne Gothic metal band, The Eternal. Mark Kelson, Chris Burton, both former members of renowned doom metal band, Cryptal Darkness, along with Chris Stevenson on keyboards started working together on The Eternal in 2003.
Paul Tipping (bass) and Ryan Buesnel (drums) rounded out the lineup. A promotional EP was completed in mid-2003 and was released to media and record labels. The response from the media was strong and the band eventually signed with Finland's Firebox Records.
Prior to the recording sessions of their first album, The Sombre Light of Isolation. Paul Tipping left the band and was replaced by James Hunt. The Sombre Light Of Isolation also features a guest appearance by Darren White of Anathema and The Blood Divine fame. Guitarist and long-time collaborator with Kelson, Chris Burton left the band shortly after the album's release in 2004. He was temporarily replaced by former Ne Plus Ultra guitarist Mat Castles before the group's tour of Europe and Hong Kong. Upon the band's return to Australia, drummer Ryan Buesnel left the band. Also in 2004, The Sombre Light of Isolation was voted as one of the Top 5 Australian heavy metal albums by listeners of Triple J's Full Metal Racket. Kelson was also temporarily bassist for fellow Melbourne band, Black Majesty.
In early 2005 it was announced that drummer Marty O'Shea and former Mortification guitarist Lincoln Bowen has joined the band. The five piece finished recording their second album, Sleep Of Reason, in May 2005 and was released once again by Firebox Records in late 2005. O'Shea left the band at the end of 2005 and was replaced by renowned Australian session drummer, Pete Marin, also of progressive rock band, Template.
2006 proved to be a good year for the relatively new band. In March 2006 The Eternal supported acclaimed Finnish rock group H.I.M. on the Australian leg of their Dark Light tour. A month later they once again toured the nation with legendary Swedish progressive metal band, Opeth.
On September 13 2006 it was announced that bassist James Hunt would leave The Eternal to pursue his career as an Agricultural Scientist.
After many months of relatively no news the band confirmed in January 2007 that guitarist Lincoln Bowen would be taking leave from the group as he awaits the birth of his second child. He was replaced by Terry Vainoras (InSomnius Dei/Earth(Aus)/Order Of Chaos). Drummer Marty O'Shea would rejoin the band following a one year absence.
5) Eternal is the name of a Gothic Metal Band from Colombia. Eternal was born in the beginning of 1995 like a Death Metal Band with Iván Darío Ríos(Guitar) and Jorge Andres Muñoz at the drums. For a long time Eternal was (a kind of) Demo/performed Band, used to play in small rock festivals in Colombia.
In October 2000 Eternal went into "ElPez" studio and recorded their first (CD) Album called "Gothic Dreams".
November 5th of 2001 Eternal was invited to share the stage with the well-know-band THERION.
6) There is no info about this band whatsoever. They released a song on the "Through the Haze" compilation 7", released on Yuletide records in 1994.
7) Eternal is a group formed in 2001. Two releases: "Satanic Templars of the Dark Age" (2005) and "The Berserks' Legions Defiance" (2009).
9) Eternal is a Thrash Metal band formed in 2004 in San José, Costa Rica.
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