Suffering so you don't have to!
Alright, my beloved dungeon dwellers! We’re going to keep this one fast, violent, and sweet—because Obscureviolence makes music just like that. Unadulterated and unapologetic. So why take it easy when we’re getting hit with eight tons of pure lifeless iron? Refuting the Flesh is a pretty cool name for a short album, right? It even sounds a bit metaphysical. Someone might say it’s dualist propaganda, but let’s not get lost in academic discussion when we have so much mayhem in front of us.
Ha! I bet you didn’t see that coming, but yours truly was a Dream Theater fan. It was the band that got me into Prog, the band that got me into shredding, and the only Metal band Pappa Catto ever liked (it was the first concert ticket he ever got me!). However, it’s been almost 20 years since I truly enjoyed one of its albums. Ever since Portnoy left, the band hasn’t felt Metal enough for me, but now he’s back, and it’s time to find out if Parasomnia is the comeback I’ve always wanted or just more absurd wanking. Stay put!
Yes, I decided to be early with this one. Those who know the game understand that Havukruunu has become one of the hidden gems of the Black/Folk Metal scene. It’s the less dramatic but more aggressive Moonsorrow style that, for many, was exactly what Folk Metal needed to stop being a gimmicky parody of the genre, where all those bagpipes and accordions in choruses were getting a bit old. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Tavastland, but does it deliver? Let’s find out.
Pegah
Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on Earth.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment
Latinoamérica isn’t exactly known for its Death/Doom scene. If anything, the region is celebrated for its Thrash/Death and Power Metal traditions. So, in a way, Matalobos is carving out a path that, while well-trodden in other parts of the world, feels fresh and unexpected in warmer climates. Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands is their attempt at crafting your typical Death/Doom experience but with a distinctly Mexican Folk touch—and that’s not something you see every day. Here at MER, we’re all about weirdness; in fact, the weirder, the better! (Note: Just sending me weird stuff won’t guarantee a great score, but it’ll certainly make me love the job more.)
The elitists will say that Jinjer is a mainstream band that takes a bit of Metalcore and Djent and tries to give it a Progressive twist. Personally, I don’t really care what the gatekeepers think. I’d argue that the band takes elements that have been massively successful and blends them with more underground influences, making them a great ambassador band for those ready to explore the harsher side of our community. That said, my expectations for Duél are realistic—I’ll have fun, but I don’t expect anything to completely blow me away. Let’s dive in and see what it’s all about! Worst-case scenario, we end up liking it, and that’s not so bad, right?
Elyna Kahn
BRAINSTORM, a name that evokes power and creativity, is a German metal band with over two decades of experience. Soon, it’ll release Plague of Rats. This album is being hailed as a career milestone, revisiting the band’s fascination with Indu culture, a theme it first explored in 2003’s release, Soul Temptation. With high expectations, I dove into the album, listening to it multiple times to fully absorb its energy. The first thing that struck me was the “Live-in-Studio” sound, which gives the record an electrifying, concert-like atmosphere. Each of the 11 tracks bursts with energy, making it feel as though you’re standing in front of the stage, surrounded by flames and a roaring crowd.
If you’re wondering why I’m so late with this review, it’s because we didn’t get the promo, and I had to wait like a total pleb for the album to come out. Humiliating, I know! However, I’m a huge fan of The Great Old Ones. The band has been delivering astonishing and terrifying Lovecraft-inspired Black Metal for more than a decade now. Ever since EOD, I’ve been hooked. So, my expectations are as high as they can get when it comes to Kadath. I almost feel sorry for these guys and the impossible standards they’ll be subjected to.
It’s time! To show mercy to the underground and believe you people can send us quality. I’m starting to think that this intro paragraph should be made by an AI because you don’t really care about it, right? You’re just here to get a bunch of cool and quirky bands for your playlist, or maybe not—maybe you’ll actually open that wallet for once. Either way, we have a good mix of singles, EPs, and albums this time. Enjoy while you can!
You see that art, and be honest with me—you think this is going to be an old-school Death Metal trip. What if I told you that you’re wrong? That for once, the art lies. Wouldn’t that make you curious? Well, Open Kasket still plays your expected extreme Metal with a hammer, but Trials of Failure is hoping to surprise us in more than one way. And though, at this point, I feel nothing could surprise me anymore, I’m willing to believe!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 