True kvlt is back! I just had to wait until there was enough material and the release schedule had slowed down a bit, but don’t think I’d forgotten about you, my dear readers and musicians hungry for new sounds. You crave the chance to be that one hipster, who in 10 years will say, “I knew them before they were cool, now they suck!” And you’ll have us to thank for that. Today, we have a fresh collection of bizarre bands, and as you know, the weirder, the better. Let’s dive in!
Ancestral Cântico – Hermético Caminho dos Saberes Ocultos
Let’s start with something unusual. You look at that cover and think, “Raw Black Metal, right?” Well, not exactly! Sure, there’s rawness aplenty, but this has more of a gothic twist. The intriguing part is that you can actually understand (if you speak Portuguese) what the vocalist is singing, adding a poetic layer. It’s not fancy or overly complex, but it’s definitely strange and something you don’t stumble upon every day. Imagine a mix of 90s Katatonia and Satyricon, and you’ll get a hint of what Ancestral Cântico is going for. Intriguing? Yes! Click here!
Sledeon – Futurescope
This one just dropped, and it’s a completely different beast from the last. It sounds pretty, polished, loud, and techy. Is it accessible Metal? Hard to pin down, but Symphonic Metal might be the closest fit. And as usual, it hails from the Netherlands. Maybe I’m just burnt out on the harsh and diabolical stuff, because I typically can’t stand bands that sound like Sledeon (it’s so loud!), but I found this strangely comforting. It’s a reliable wall of sound with catchy riffs, and, believe it or not, I even enjoyed the synths. That doesn’t happen every day! Click here!
Anasarca – Goddess of the Somber Shade
Ah, back to my comfort zone. This album is solid, old-school Death Metal with decent production (still wrapping my head around the drums, though). Imagine De Profundis if it was less technical and more focused on bashing, something closer to Hour of Penance. That’s what you get here. If I sound a bit dry, it’s because well-executed Death Metal isn’t quirky or unexpected—it has a mission, and in this case, it delivers. So if you’re a Death Metal junkie wanting to go even deeper underground, click here!
Arkanist – Arkanist
I don’t usually feature albums from years ago, but a) this one was sent by one of our most loyal readers (I know all of you, of course!), and b) it’s from a local band, and I’m all for supporting the “hood”. Arkanist falls under MeloThrash, combining melodic guitar work straight out of 2000s Arch Enemy and 90s In Flames with some raw, gritty vocals reminiscent of Entombed. Production-wise, yes, it’s True kvlt, but that lo-fi touch adds some crust to what might have otherwise felt flat. So, I appreciate the raw edge! Click here!
Wow, this turned out longer than I expected! I won’t keep you much longer. Just remember—support the underground. Give all these bands some love, or even some hate, but give them something! -Flies away-
Metal Eclipse Reviews 