June 2024 – Page 3 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

MONO – Oath

It was a night in the distant past—I can’t recall the exact year—but one thing was certain: I didn’t go to that concert to see MONO. My main interest was probably to see The Ocean or Sólstafir. Either way, when MONO took the stage, I expected nothing. But then it hit us: the overwhelming and mesmerizing emotion of its performance. Without a single word, MONO showed so much courage and vulnerability at the same time that I was touched as I had never been at a concert. Hence, when Oath fell into my hands, I knew it had to be reviewed immediately. Do I still have it in my heart to understand this band? Let’s find out!

True kvlt – Black Phantom, Pagan Rites and Unveil The Omen

It’s that time of the week again when we go through our followers’ submissions in hopes of finding the next big thing. Today, we have two albums and one single. A strange mix, you might say, but may I remind you that at MER, we do whatever we want since you haven’t opened thy wallet yet. Remember, beggars can’t be choosers.

Helps us start an illegal militia here

Construct of Lethe – A Kindness Dealt in Venom

I first want to start by warning that this review requires serious consideration. Suicide is no joke, and if you joke or bully people about it, we’ll find you. Hence, I’ve been delaying my take on Construct of Lethe‘s A Kindness Dealt in Venom. First, my underpaid interns have been struggling with your requests, and second, I didn’t want to review something that approaches such a serious matter in an exploitative way (not the case here, fortunately). But let’s focus on the music, shall we?

Double EP: Legionary & Sons of Gulliver

When you spend a lot of time reviewing albums, it’s easy to overlook the more modest releases that can still offer quality despite arriving with less fanfare. That’s why I’ve combined two completely different projects in one article, to provide some good or bad publicity to these EPs that reached us without much pretense (see kids? A bit of humility can take you far in life). So, let the mayhem begin!

Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God

I’ve been delaying this more than you delay your work emails, but the time has come. If there’s one band that can consistently compete for album of the year awards on any platform, it’s Ulcerate. They’ve done it with every single album since Everything is Fire and kept it going until Stare Into Death and Be Still. Ulcerate never holds back and can only compete with itself. So, you’d be right to think that my expectations for Cutting the Throat of God are so out of proportion that I should call my therapist soon, but before I get sent back to rehab, just read this.

Evergrey – Theories of Emptiness

Tell me something, do you feel sad? Do you feel neglected by a world that has denied you the right to be yourself? To spread your wings and fly beyond your somber prison, all without feeling rage? That’s a good description of what Evergrey represents to me, the prolific Power Metal band turned dark Heavy Metal. It’s been quite a trip since I discovered them via Recreation Day (oh! shouldn’t we retro-review that? It’s older than some countries now), but today we’re talking about Theories of Emptiness. Does it stack up to such a long and diverse discography, or will it leave you truly heartbroken? I hope you bring tissues because we’re punching you right in the feels today.

Al-Namrood – Al Aqrab

When you think of Black Metal, your mind goes to cold and windy mountainous regions, full of darkness and solitude. You imagine a place desolated by the sins of Christianity and the return of pagan traditions. It’s all extremely Eurocentric, right? Well, I’ve been waiting for this album to drop in my mailbox for a while because Al-Namrood – Al Aqrab comes from the last place you associate with Black Metal. That’s right, I’m talking about Riyadh in Saudi Arabia! We made it, my siblings in faith! We’ve reached all corners of this planet. That’s moving, but is Al Aqrab any good? Time to roll out!

Hyppotraktor – Stasis

A few months back, I was minding my own business, which means critiquing papers others wrote because they weren’t up to par… right, you don’t need to know that. Either way, in the middle of that bloodbath, a friend sent me Meridian and I thought nothing of it after listening to the first track. But then I listened to the second and the third. Something had clicked. Hippotraktor (that name…) was different; it was as if The Ocean and Meshuggah had a hipster child. Hence, my expectations for Stasis were high, and that’s always a problem, or is it?

True kvlt: Shrouded in Darkness & Rot Fester

Today, we have more submissions from our followers. I must say, this was the first seriously formatted promotion I’ve received since the open application started, earning it a full review. Take note, kids! If you submit something clean and easy to read, people might give you nice things. Just a thought. Shall we begin?

True Kvlt – EP madness 1

Today we get out the first round of EPs that were submitted a few weeks back. If your material isn’t out yet, don’t panic. The cue is slowly moving. Bureaucracy takes times, but it works, right?