April 2025 – Page 3 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Exiled Hope – Apocrypha

Vicky

I get that Burzum, Darkthrone, and Mayhem are considered to be the best Black metal bands, but can we agree to disagree? There are people (much like myself) who prefer Doom, Atmospheric, or Gothic Black Metal, and they probably won’t agree with those who think the style doesn’t go farther than those aforementioned bands. As a matter of fact, I want to tell you more about the latest album released by the Black Metal project Exiled Hope, Apocrypha—you can thank me later for helping you discover this hidden gem of dark music. First thing’s first, Apocrypha is Exiled Hope’s third full-length album, a follow-up to the band’s previous LPs, Exiled Hope (2020), and Angel of Greytown (2021). So this band plays Black Metal, but here’s the twist: it’s a US-based one-man band—or should I say, a one-woman band—founded by Sofia Frasz, also known for her work with the bands Figures and Stygal.

In The Woods…-Otra

It’s nothing new to say that In the Woods… is a band that has not only defied genre conventions but also done its own thing regardless of the times. Whether that worked or not is a subject for great discussion. However, I’m going to take the safe (chicken!) route and say that the band’s first three albums are classics—and then things changed (see, nobody’s hurt yet!). So, Otra is trying to get every Black/Prog/Avant-Garde Metalhead on board for once, and that’s a Herculean task. Is it even possible?

Rýr – Disloged

Instrumental Metal is something that many noobs dream of having. All your friends who hate “screaming” claim to want something like this—only to never listen to it anyway. That’s the reality of the game: people hate growling until it’s not there. However, that doesn’t take away from the merits of a band like Rýr, whose approach on Disloged makes me think of a less brutal Cult of Luna—yet still heavier than Pelican (let’s be honest, anything is heavier than Pelican). But enough mixed signals—let’s dig into what this album is all about.

Kiritsis-Kiritsis

Pegah

Kiritsis (meaning “small master” in Greek) is a U.S.-based band that thrives at the volatile crossroads of Doom, Sludge, and Hardcore. Their sound is defined by harsh, shouted vocals, crushing low-end guitars, and a raw, unrelenting emotional intensity that mirrors the gravity of their themes. That tension isn’t just audible—it’s woven into the album’s visuals and symbolism. The cover features a stark, medieval-style etching: a crowned figure seated on a throne, confronted by a peasant or servant raising a hand (and possibly a weapon). This imagery reflects the infamous Tony Kiritsis hostage situation, which the band explicitly references. It’s a symbolic clash of power and desperation, of the oppressed seizing control by force—a perfect visual prelude to the chaos that erupts in the music.

True kvlt special: Coincidentia Oppositorum, or how Haggard’s torch is being carried on in Romania

Vicky

If you do some research to find out which Symphonic Metal bands come from Romania, you’ll come across groups such as Interitus Dei, Nocturnal Eternity, Whispering Woods, Symphress, Dark Æclipse, Magica, Adastia, and Aeon Sun. I recommend searching for these bands on your preferred streaming platform and giving their music a listen—they’re truly worth it.

Allegaeon -The Ossuary Lens

Stargazer Scholar

Allegaeon is a daunting band. No, the musicians don’t wear corpsepaint, and no, they don’t employ spooky dissonant chords to ward off the casual listener. It’s just that their discography is so amazingly solid. One may prefer certain records to the others, but come on—none of those albums is anything less than highly enjoyable. So imagine the feelings that tormented me during the anticipation of The Ossuary Lens: Will this unlikely career-long run of form continue, or will the band finally allow itself a misstep? Well, no spoilers—you’ll have to read the whole thing.

Claiming Space in Black Metal: An Interview with Hedonistica from Völva

Hi there, my beloved blog-dwellers. It’s been a long time since we had an interview. However, that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about you—the people who can read for longer than three minutes! (The blog stats show that not only do you exist, but you also come back often.) Anyway, we talked to Hedonistica from Völva, one of the most interesting Black Metal bands out there. Why? Because it’s actually rebellious and controversial without being edgy. But “Catto, how’s that even possible?” Read below, kiddo!

Tribunal – In Penitence and Ruin

Sometimes in metal, as in life, appearances are deceiving. For example, I’m an invisible Metalhead – you’d never guess I belong to this illustrious community. So when Tribunal‘s Penitence and Ruin promo arrived from 20 Buck Spin, I assumed we had another reliable but predictable old-school Death Metal album on our hands. You know, the typical 3.0/5.0 or maybe slightly better. Oh, but I was surprised to find out this isn’t just a Doom Metal band – it’s a Symphonic Doom Metal band (I can already imagine some of you salivating over that). So, let’s see if this formula works.

Hermyth – Aether

Pegah

Italian cosmic Doomgaze band Hermyth returns with its second album, Aether. In ancient science, “aether” is the fifth element—the essence that binds the other four, the very fabric of existence. Staying true to its name, Aether is a journey through transcendence, guidance, and spiritual ascension, woven into a rich tapestry of ethereal, grandiose, and melancholic soundscapes. The album’s cover art reflects this celestial mysticism, depicting an angel-like figure adrift among the stars against a vast black backdrop—evoking the feeling of being lost, or perhaps found, somewhere in the infinite cosmos.

Arch Enemy – Blood Dynasty

To me, it’s always been a mystery how Arch Enemy became the big band it is today. There was nothing particularly different in what it did back in the early 2000s (granted, it had a frontwoman growling, but was that really new then?). Yet, it had a solid formula that was immediately recognizable. They gave us a few classics, and I’d be lying if I said Wages of Sin and Doomsday Machine aren’t childhood staples for me. Ever since, the band has felt washed—there, I said it. So, with zero expectations, I enter Blood Dynasty, hoping it’s at least better than Duke Dynasty (my worst joke to date, yay!).