I know what you’re thinking: these aren’t exactly deep underground releases, but the rawness of some of them undeniably earns them a spot here. Rarely do we come across releases that sound so tvre while being this professional! (There’s a lot of French Black Metal, so I had to do a bit of digging into some criminal records—you know how it is in that scene.) Next week, we’ll be back to spotlighting what you, our loyal readers, have to offer. In the meantime, try to enjoy this eclectic group of bands that range from basement Black Metal to politically charged MeloDeath/Folk. Let’s dive in!
Tour D’Ivoire – Tour D’Ivoire: Alright, I’ll be real with you, my children—this album isn’t for me. It’s dense, unrelenting, and depressive Atmospheric Black Metal that drowns you in a wall of tremolo picking. So, if you’re high on something really relaxing, this is the perfect soundtrack for that. Otherwise, brace yourself for about 40 minutes of unfazed, eye-tearing guitar pummeling that will send you into oblivion. Also, I hope you love the opening riffs because they stick around until the end of each track. However, it’s still the kind of pain that fans of the genre love! Click here!
Gravenoire – Devant La Porte Des Étoiles: Despite coming from a major label, Gravenoire is exactly what French Black Metal is all about (minus the fascism, I hope!). This release is so raw and nostalgic that I almost had to put it out of its misery before dinner with my bare hands. Yet, it somehow sounds fresh! It’s a strange balance between harsh production and genuinely good ideas. It’s like taking Norwegian Black Metal and putting it in the hands of musicians who can actually play their instruments—you can immediately tell the difference. Click here!
Die Entweihung – Strict Regime Country: Okay, there’s a bit of a conflict of interest here because Die Entweihung is the band that started True kvlt. So, even if it made an album more boring than listening to a chess match on the radio, we’d still love it. But that’s not the case here—Strict Regime Country is melody-driven, colorful, and more fun than ever. Yes, it’s raw and unpolished, but it’s still lighter to listen to than Kings & Pawns. Plus, it’s packed with politics—Belarusian politics! (The land of democracy, you know.) Who doesn’t want that? So, Folk/MeloDeath Metal for the win once more. If you want your MeloDeath with a Folk twist but dirtier than usual, I’m happy to say Die Entweihung still has it. Click here!
It’s been a while since we featured full albums/EPs and especially from bands with labels in this section, which proves that even signed bands can sound like they crawled out of a graveyard. Don’t get used to it, though—next week, we’ll be back with fewer polished promos; our bread and butter, our reason to keep going: the hopeless search for fortune, glory, and respect that many bands pursue but few attain. Anyway, who wants surströmming? I’m hungry.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 