Suffering so you don't have to!
Part three of the endless search for albums we missed. This is a bit of a mixed bag. We have huge omissions, but also some underground darlings that we couldn’t let pass—regardless of our excuses (usually staff shortages). I’m thinking about opening a review factory in some country with no workers’ rights, of course! So watch out, USA—here we come! But I digress. Let’s continue our dive into some albums worth remembering.
Let’s keep reviewing our greatest omissions of the year. Some of these are older than MER Industries itself, so you can’t blame us too much for missing them. However, I suspect that they’re are going to end up on a few end-of-the-year lists, so it would be criminal to let them slip by without glory—even if this moment of honor feels insignificant. Alright, so here’s part two of our redemption rounds. If your favorite album is missing, relax—there will be more parts.
It’s time for some small redemption. There are a few heavy hitters we missed when they were just released. Whether it was because we didn’t get the promo or simply didn’t find the time amidst the avalanche of Metal we receive every second (yes, per second!), these albums deserve recognition—especially if they don’t make it to any of our end-of-the-year lists. Consider this an apology for past and future mistakes. Convenient, right? Anyway, some of these albums you’ve probably listened to death, while others might not have even appeared on your radar. Let’s get to it!
As we approach the end of the year, it’s almost time to annihilate whatever remains in the filter, so we can start the new year full of promises and dreams completely out of touch with reality. However, before I do that, there’s still some time to explore what the underground has left to offer this year. In this case, we return to this blog’s guilty pleasure: Death/Doom. Harkane‘s Argo claims to be inspired by The Argonautica, the most boring-interesting Greek epic I’ve ever read. Let’s hope it delivers more action!
Pegah & Metalcatto
It’s that time of the week when we raid the fridge for whatever leftovers we can find—because who wants to cook a lot on a Sunday? You do? Well, respect, I’ll give you that. But this time is different. I’m not alone in this section—Pegah has decided to join in and bring another band to your tearful eyes. So, here we have this week’s lucky picks:
It’s time to talk about those bands and albums that ended up in my inbox, coming from the depths of the internet. These are bands that, with talent, sweat, and humility, have worked hard to surprise listeners this year. I truly hope they keep growing to gather the cult following they deserve. Some of these bands are just debuting or don’t even have a promoter—an injustice that needs to change as soon as possible. So here they are, in no specific order because they all deserve your attention: the revelations of the year.
Pegah
“Man is wolf to man. Who in the face of all his experience of life and of history, will have the courage to dispute this assertion?“
– Sigmund Freud
Pillar of Light’s debut album, Caldera, weaves a rich tapestry of themes through its Post-Metal and Sludge Doom Metal lens. The album’s title and cover imagery suggest a potent exploration of destruction and renewal, evoking transformation both in the world and within the human spirit. The interplay between light and darkness—embodied by the stark, illuminated gate set against a shadowy background—serves as a metaphor for hope versus despair, life versus death, and the dualities that shape our existence.
Polish Black Metal has already established itself as its own school of thought in our small community. It’s hard to define it precisely. However, the sound of human decadence is the first thing that comes to mind. Kir is trying to portray that, but from an urban perspective in L’appel du Vide. You’d think that with such a title, this would be a mellow Post-Rock album, but no—this is as dirty as it gets. Still, it would be good to know more about the quality of the work itself, right? Stick around, kid.
If Disso-Death has taken over Death Metal this year, I think it’s fair to say that MeloBlack is becoming the new meta within Black Metal. More and more bands are jumping on the sad but angry bandwagon that Dissection pioneered so long ago. Enter Mörk Gryning, a project that has been away for a while but promises to continue this newly rediscovered tradition. With Fasornas Tid, the band promises to stick to what it’s done but also adapt to these enigmatic times. Will it manage to stay on the bandwagon? Let’s find out.
Elyna Kahn
Are you familiar with the words “Pareidolia” and “Depravity”? Pareidolia refers to a psychological phenomenon where the human mind perceives faces in random images, lights, and shadows. A good example is the classic emoji, known worldwide due to social media. When keyboard characters combine, we see a face expressing a specific emotion, though it is merely signs arranged in a certain manner. We attribute that combination of signs to a particular facial expression and emotion.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 