September 2024 – Page 3 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Groza – Nadir

Groza is Germany’s answer to Mgła. They share that traditional rawness, that sense of melancholy, and so far, no major controversies. So, it’s a more guilt-free experience (but we’re all guilty of something, aren’t we?). Album after album, I’ve watched the band evolve from a traditional Black Metal act into a more Post-Black entity. Yet, I always feel like Groza is just one step away from truly finding its own voice on the treacherous path to originality. Is Nadir the album where it finally reaches its full potential? Grab an umbrella, because it’s about to rain tears.

Ævangelist – Perdition Ekstasis Meta

Whoever said that Industrial Metal is boring and commercial has clearly never listened to whatever Ævangelist has been up to. Do they even know what they’re doing? Ever since De Masticatione Mortuorum In Tumulis, the band has developed this bizarre blend of Death, Black, and Industrial Metal, all wrapped in the most lo-fi production possible. It’s such a dense listen that I was genuinely worried I might hate Perdition Ekstasis Meta. Was it because it’s so far removed from anything we might consider enjoyable, or because it lacks something previous it previously had? Either way, I came in ready to give this disturbing album a chance. Let’s go!

True kvlt: Sonolith, Grimgotts, & Fallen Gabriel

What if I told you that sometimes, in this section, we feature fresh releases? As in, they’re not even out yet. I picked three for today, and the best part is that they’re so different from each other, mixing them up will feel like eating jelly bathed in chicken fat with a touch of cinnamon. Absolutely disgusting, right? Well, I promise everything here will be far better than whatever atrocity you just imagined. As usual, give them love or give them hate—but please, give them something!

Pyrrhon – Exhaust

Well, this came out of nowhere—promo included! Not many bands can match Pyrrhon‘s ability to obliterate what little sanity the listener has left. The Mother of Virtues and What Passes for Survival are absolute classics, perfect soundtracks for puking while looking up (don’t try it at home, you’ll drown). However, Abscess Time left me a bit cold. I didn’t quite get it, which is why I approached Exhaust with caution. You can never be too safe with a band this volatile. In that sense, Pyrrhon had already succeeded in manipulating my expectations. But enough intro—let’s dive into the madness.

Interview: Gunn-Hilde Erstad of Rendezvous Point on Musicianship, Physical Performance, and Navigating the Prog Scene

Hi there, my fellow basement-dwellers! We’ve had another interview, but this time, we’re aiming to educate you a bit, especially you, our musician demographic that needs to learn how to take care of your body since four energy drinks mixed with donuts are no healthy dinner. We’ve got Gunn-Hilde Erstad from Rendezvous Point, who happens to be a PhD candidate researching physical performance in musicians. But enough talking, let’s hear from her!

EP madness 2: Hammerfilosofi, Emasculator & Grave Sermon

It’s been a while since we paid attention to the leftovers of the Metal world, or in other words, the EPs. As you know, I usually avoid them like the plague, but sometimes it’s good to step out of the comfort zone and try something different. These are a few EPs that managed to keep me awake when all I wanted to do was sleep. That should tell you everything you need to know, right?

Gaerea – Coma

I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say that in the barren landscape that is pure Black Metal, Gaerea stands as a rare ray of originality. I was there when Unsettling Whispers came out and was just as impressed as anyone else. Then came the crushing and lengthy Limbo, followed by the leaner and more dramatic Mirage. Now, Coma faces the difficult task of continuing a streak of innovation that few other contemporary Metal bands have been able to achieve. Can Gaerea keep us dreaming? Can it replicate the poetic anxiety that has defined its work so far? Come with me and let’s find out.

Various Artist: Surrender to Death A History of the Atlanta Metal Underground Vol. 1

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that we love history at MER. We even do retro-reviews all the time. Not many music genres have as much reverence for the past as Metal does. However, we tend to focus on the big classics and forget the dirt, the crust, and the deep underground where bands live and die, hoping to evade oblivion for just a little longer. That’s why today we have a different type of review. Surrender to Death: A History of the Atlanta Metal Underground Vol. 1 features more than 20 artists. I know nothing about Atlanta except that it has a huge airport, but let’s learn about its old Metal scene, shall we?

Tusenårseken – Omhuldra

Stargazer Scholar

The underground spirit of extreme Metal doesn’t prevent it from being one of the most demanding genres when it comes to execution. The increasing accessibility of modern technology has yet to catch up with human creativity and the exploratory ambitions of artists working in small studios and isolated bedrooms. Musicianship and songwriting talent are still the foundation of any musical edifice, but without appropriate production quality, even the most solid building blocks may not hold. Omhuldra, the third full-length release by Sweden’s one-man Atmospheric/Pagan Black Metal project Tusenårseken, exemplifies this contradiction better than any other album I’ve heard recently.

True kvlt: Tour D’Ivoire, Gravenoire & Die Entweihung

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!