Metalcatto
Corruption time!
Filip Vincek – No Name: What can I say? The guy can play. He keeps the same warm and cozy feeling of previous tracks, but doesn’t sacrifice the technical aspects of things. Shred tends to be weird and even boring, but that’s not the case with Filip’s work, which ends up having a good sense of songwriting. It’s not just showing off—it’s actually saying something. The melodies have purpose, the progressions feel natural, and the whole thing wraps you in a blanket of competence.
Chainline – Auction of Fate: Now that’s a strange and dramatic title. However, things aren’t as bizarre when it comes to the music, because Chainline might have that Amon Amarth distortion, but the rest is happening at a much more commercial and accessible register. Yet it doesn’t forget the melancholy of its land. You can hear the cold and the distance in the chords, even when the riffs are straightforward. It’s a curious mix—heavy enough to please the headbangers, but catchy enough to stick in your head on the way home.
Forbidden Order – The Weak Link in Your Chain: Imagine if a Gothic band could actually play its instruments proficiently. Oh, did I offend anyone? Well, don’t worry, because this track shows that Forbidden Order can balance this spooky atmosphere with actual skill. It’s not common, and the track is more on the playful side, but that’s what you’re here for anyway. The synths are theatrical without being ridiculous, the guitars have bite without losing the melody, and the whole thing feels like a costume party where everyone actually knows how to play.
Ephraim – This Map Ends in Black Water: Dark and depressing Metalcore that doesn’t stay with the more commercial side of the style. It has these textures of oppression and horror that make the whole thing way more interesting than it should be, and that’s something to respect, I think. It almost has a Black Metal spirit trapped in this Core shape. The dissonance is deliberate, the breakdowns feel earned, and the atmosphere is thick enough to choke on.
John Bolshoi – Maze of Dreams: Sometimes, even I get sentimental, and the fun and colorful way that this project approaches Metal music might be cliché for some, but it certainly appeals to the more innocent reviewers at MER. So here I am, recommending something to go for. Is this Folk? I’m not sure, but it’s engaging for sure. The melodies are light, the rhythms are bouncy, and the whole thing feels like a campfire singalong in a fantasy tavern. It’s not heavy, it’s not dark, and it’s not trying to be. And that’s exactly why it works. Sometimes you just need a break from the gloom. This is that break. Take it. You deserve it. Even if you don’t admit it.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 