Part three of the endless search for albums we missed. This is a bit of a mixed bag. We have huge omissions, but also some underground darlings that we couldn’t let pass—regardless of our excuses (usually staff shortages). I’m thinking about opening a review factory in some country with no workers’ rights, of course! So watch out, USA—here we come! But I digress. Let’s continue our dive into some albums worth remembering.
Inter Arma – New Heaven: How could I miss this one? Well, we didn’t get the promo in time. That’s life. But that doesn’t matter because Inter Arma did what needed to be done—it took enormous risks with New Heaven. It showed guts! The first part of this album is unstoppable and grotesque Disso-Death that will alienate half of the fanbase. But fear not—the band returns to its sluggish, epic, and sad roots by the middle and begins more subtle experimentation. A worthy member of any end-of-the-year list, New Heaven has it all when it comes to ups and downs. If you’re a Death/Doom fan bored of the traditional ways, this is the album for you!
Whoredom Rife – Den Vrede Makt: How could Norwegian Black Metal still offer something we don’t already have? Sure, this has stunning art, but what else? Well, it’s hard to put into words, but Den Vrede Makt certainly delivers everything the Norwegian School should, with an extra touch of atmosphere. It transports you to a punishing, mysterious world where rage and oblivion reign supreme. You just have to be prepared for long, epic tracks that stick to a couple of ideas with obsessive focus. Again, this is traditional Black Metal done well. It might not hold too many surprises, but it’s as reliable and multipurpose as a knife in the woods.
Misotheist – Vessels by Which the Devil Is Made Flesh: Hands down, one of the most spectacular artworks of the year. If Mgła was an atmospheric, proggy band, it’d probably sound like this. Yet this leans more toward Blackened Death Metal (thanks to those unholy vocals) than it initially seems. It’s sinister and hysterical, and even with its brief breaks, it pummels you into the afterlife with no hesitation—and in only three tracks. (Because let’s face it, you can’t be signed by Terratur Possessions if your album has tracks shorter than seven minutes!) Still, there are rewarding moments of catharsis amidst the blastbeat mayhem, showing a band willing to go beyond the norm and expose us to more than just a mindless assault. Your patience will be rewarded.
Three more out of the pipe, and a zillion more to go. But don’t worry—soon we’ll have actual rankings, so you can either love us more for confirming your bias or utterly hate us because none of your favorites made it onto any of our lists. What can I do if you have poor taste? (Just kidding! We love you! Stay with us!) Some of you have made suggestions, and since there weren’t too many, we can actually cover them for once. Tune in tomorrow for those!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 
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