August 2024 – Page 2 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire

There are few albums that have been relentlessly hyped on social media like Spectral Wound‘s Songs of Blood and Mire. Sure, I’ve liked what this band has released before, but the implicit pressure to check out this one has been a remarkable feat of marketing by whoever handles its promotions. Either way, you’re probably here after reading countless reviews that beat me to the punch, all of which have hyped you to death. Now you’re just wondering: Am I going to crush your expectations or make you even more ravenous for the release date? Watch and learn.

Zeal & Ardor – GREIF

Every once in a while, a band shows up and defies expectations to levels that we thought weren’t possible. Zeal & Ardor managed to mix oil and water; mixing Black Metal with Soul music in a way that even the biggest purist could respect. Yet it’s been years since Strange Fruit smacked us all in the mouth, and though Zeal & Ardor was good, I do wonder what can the band do next? It’s hard to keep innovating so much in this boring world. So stick around and find out here!

Evilyn -Mondestrunken

I’ll give something to Evilyn—it has a cool band name. One that won’t make you suspect the ridiculous beatdown it can deliver. And what if I told you this is a “debut”? Could you believe a new band would compete in a year plagued with great Tech Death releases? Except Mondestrunken wasn’t written by amateurs. It features former members from Defeated Sanity, Psycroptic, and many others, which actually gives Evilyn the feeling of being a discreet superband. Cute, but Tech Death lives and dies by how exciting it is. Can this album stand out? We’ll see!

True Kvlt: Sagen, Voidkeeper, Atom Driver, The D.O.O.D

This is going to be a weird True Kvlt because I’m running out of super underground releases. Don’t worry, we’ll ask the mighty forces of the internet to feed us more. The battle for exposure is never over, and we fight to the bitter end, because while we might be insignificant in the vastness of space, that doesn’t mean we have to feel that way! Let’s start!

Har – Curse Creation

When you feel anger, despair, or just good old desolation, it’s hard to find the right soundtrack. I hear you! There’s a lot of heavy bands out there, but not many can truly capture the feeling of being utterly lost in anguish. Har is here to offer something hideous and immoral. You could almost call it Curse Creation. Before you start salivating in a Pavlovian manner, keep reading to find out if this is what your broken spirit needs to accept its inability to recover and live a functional life. Too dark? And we’re only getting started!

Hammerfall – Avenge the Fallen

Elyna Kahn (long version here)

Greetings from the South of the world, dear siblings in Power Metal! I’m excited to announce another big release emerging from Sweden, where the hammer and the sword resonate powerfully: Avenge the Fallen, Hammerfall‘s thirteenth album. After such a long career can the band still have a few tricks left? You’ll have to stay with me to find out!

Scald – Ancient Doom Metal

Many moons ago, a tiny yet mighty Doom Metal act from Russia gave us a 5.0/5.0 album that redefined what Epic Doom could sound like. Will of the Gods is a Great Power (I sense some Russian grammar in this title) is probably the best Viking Epic Doom album ever made. However, it had been overshadowed by 27 years of inactivity and the tragic demise of Scald‘s original vocalist. And now, here we are decades later, and out of nowhere, a miracle has happened! Ancient Doom Metal is out, and with all sorts of mixed feelings, I wonder: Can Scald touch the sky again? Are you ready? Because I’m not!

Fleshgod Apocalypse – Opera

The Gods of violence have been kind to me this time! We’ve been given this promo, and there’s no better way to celebrate it than by writing something snobbish about it! Fleshgod Apocalypse needs no introduction. Love them or hate them, no other band does it like they do. It’s also a band willing to take big risks. Ever since Oracles—which, by the way, is one of the best Tech Death albums ever; go get it!—the band has constantly evolved. Since King, the band has embraced its Italian-ness (that’s not a word!) more and more. And though I think Veleno was underrated, you never know what to expect from this band. Opera is ambitious, as its name indicates, but can it join the other great Italian works? Let’s go!

Anciients -Beyond the Reach of The Sun

Aeons ago, I had the luck of discovering Voices of the Void, and it spoke to me! How could a band summon the spirit of Mastodon and Opeth simultaneously? Anciients was a Prog Metal fan’s fantasy come true. However, I felt perfection still eluded the project. This is why Beyond the Reach of the Sun has created high expectations in me this time. I feel this band is so close to being the next big thing in Prog, and even if it falls short, whatever it delivers will be amazing and full of tasty riffs, right? I want to believe! Join me on this journey of illusions that could end in heartbreak and unfathomable drinking.

Nile -The Underworld Awaits Us All

Who is excited about this Nile album? Yay… nobody? Before you feel the rage, I just want to clarify that, like many of you, I agree that the older Nile albums are sacred in the death metal creed. Annihilation of the Wicked, In Their Darkened Shrines, and Black Seeds of Vengeance will always be timeless classics. No other band has sustained a gimmick so long and so well. However, Nile‘s recent efforts have left me cold and doubtful, so my expectations for The Underworld Awaits Us All were low. Let’s see if my hopes can join the army of the undead or actually meet Anubis once and for all.