Metalcatto
Wow! we’ve done this so many times now.
The Art of Falling Alone – Golden Parasite: We usually don’t review stuff like this, but given how goth and strategic it feels, we couldn’t let it pass. It’s not commercial, but neither is it totally underground. If anything, the vocals make the whole thing sexy enough to make me uncomfortable. But maybe you’re different. The atmosphere is thick, the bass lines are prominent, and the whole thing oozes a kind of dark charisma that’s hard to ignore. It’s not trying to be heavy in the traditional sense, but it carries a weight of its own.
Marco Garau’s Magic Opera – Mother of Winter and Ice: Unicorns and dragons. That’s what’s going on here. Colorful and instrumentally gifted as always, you know what to expect from Italians when it comes to Power Metal. Everything is bombastic and over the top to a point that requires real suspension of disbelief. Yet it’s all fun in the end. The keyboards are soaring, the guitars are galloping, and the vocals are theatrical without becoming ridiculous. It’s a fantasy epic condensed into a few minutes—cheesy, but in the best possible way.
Colepitz – End of Everything: I almost thought this was going to be an instrumental track, given how Djent the guitars felt. Yet the vocals go in a different direction. It really brings you back to the 2010s and delivers exactly what it promises in terms of riffs and songwriting. I’d be willing to review these guys’ full album one day, since it’s nothing but interesting if you’re a guitar or bass nerd like me. The polyrhythms are tight, the production is crisp, and the whole thing feels like a technical exercise that actually has soul.
In Between – Bite to Break: So just straight-up Death Metal? Okay, I can get behind that. The guitar solos felt like they belonged in another song, but it’s definitely aggressive enough to keep you warm at night. Yet the vibe is more In Flames than Cannibal Corpse, so there’s some sense of melody here and there, but mostly disgusting riffing and growling you can enjoy any day of the week. It’s not reinventing anything, but it doesn’t need to. Sometimes you just want to headbang without thinking too hard.
IAMSIN – Rituals: You don’t hear much Metalcore coming from Finland. So expect some ultra-brutal breakdowns and some almost corny clean vocals. Yet it has its own more melodic approach and technical details that give that sadboy sound the land of endless saunas is known for. I don’t even like Metalcore, but this is by far better than average. The breakdowns hit hard, the melodies stick, and the overall production is polished without losing its edge. If you’re skeptical of the genre, this might be the one that changes your mind—or at least makes you nod your head a few times. Either way, it’s worth a spin. And if you’re already a fan, you’ll probably love it.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 