Here's a fascinating excursion into both the inner and outer limits of music. The inner limits, because Ewigkeit is completely the creation of one man, James Fogerty, known as "Mr. Fog". The outer limits, because Ewigkeit succeeds better than most at mastering the elusive genre of "space metal".

Mr. Fog is one talented guy, to put all of this together himself. Ewigkeit (German for "eternity", by the way) has a huge, expansive sound that combines the ethereal quality of a Pink Floyd with the hammering vibes of Ministry. Most stabs at "cosmic rock" sound overblown and longwinded, but many of the tracks on "Radio Ixtlan" are actually quite compact and catchy. Yet the sounds of the void and of high technology
form the meat of Ewigkeit's concept. It's like Bowie's "Space Oddity" played by a killer heavy metal band.

There are lots of influences and ideas to be found here, both musically and lyrically. As Mr. Fog himself has said, "it's not a concept album, it's an album of concepts". Like the mystical shaman Don Juan, who is another guiding light of Mr. Fog, Ewigkeit embarks on a journey to unexplored corners of the mind. You can join the ride by tuning in to "Radio Ixtlan".

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2004 Year Book Volume 2 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2003-and-2004/.