Metalcatto
Shout-outs! What else did you expect?
Gemynd Bedau – Obsolete Human Machine: This is the newest album from this project. It’s even more oppressive and devastating, with depression disguised under melancholic riffs and vocals straight out of a steel factory. It’s heavily industrial—as in, is this the soundtrack for Blame!? If you love Atmospheric Black Metal, this is an ugly standout.
Tár – Neon Blood: I believe this is a familiar face in this section. This track is basically classic Prog, but the runtime is reasonable and the shredding is kept to a sane level. So it’s pretty digestible despite how specialized the whole sound is. Oh, and the production is cleaner than a newborn.
Avaland – Destiny Calls: Is it cheesy Power Metal? Yes, a bit. But that doesn’t mean we’ll ignore it. The track is a blast and a clear nostalgia trip to the days when flashy guitars and dramatic singing were enough to convince the hungry masses. Maybe it’s still good enough for you.
Jonestown – Viy: Another nostalgic call, but this time it’s much thrashier and more compressed. Sure, it’s still not brutally heavy, but the length and different sections in this track make me wonder if this is what retro-Doom would be if they quit the Mary Jane and sped it up. So yes, this is my thing.
Formula Zero – We All Decay: I was close to letting this pass, but I’m glad I left my comfort zone. This track went from almost cheesy Core to a much more aggressive and nasty beast in a matter of seconds. It’s that strange mix between a bar fight and a high school dance. Yes, that’s odd, I know.
Hallucinophonics – Frozen Meridian: The only Meridian I usually like is Blood Meridian, but if you want something more Prog Rock with sorrowful energy, then this track is for you. Just expect something soft and gentle that takes its time to build up momentum for the moments of actual release.
Efflore – Siu Niu: Okay, this gets me all excited. It’s not every day we get Black Metal from Hong Kong, and even less often something with this level of quality and brutality. It has flashy guitars, punishing drums, nasty vocals, and respectable production. There’s not much else to ask for from your underground Black Metal band. This one delivers.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 