metalcatto

Obscene – Agony & Wounds

Oh wow! Take a look at that cover art! It looks more disgusting than the last time I checked your browsing history (did you actually think the VPN would protect you? Cute!). Obscene brings us its newest release soon, Agony & Wounds. It’s unadulterated Death Metal that promises to throw you into a sea of gore and unpleasant body fluids. This all sounds sexy, but you know gory Death Metal is over-explored, especially after the lovely mayhem of 2023. Still, let’s see if Obscene has anything to offer, shall we?

True kvlt: Embers Ignite, Hell In the Skies, Arkan Al’Fawda, The Impending Blindess

Here we go again! We have a few EPs and albums submitted by you, our beloved readers who keep our hearts pumping but bring no food to our tables (how do you feel about that, you freeloaders?). That’s okay, I’ll forgive you for now… let the judging begin!

Help us grow our population to surpass that of San Marino.

Rendezvous Point – Dream Chaser

If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know that Norway is a low-key powerhouse for Prog bands, not just Black Metal from the basement. I ran into Rendezvous Point aeons ago when they opened for Leprous at a local concert. It was exciting! We had a fire emergency, the power went off, and we were thrown out into the winter cold, but it was all a false alarm (ha ha ha…). Either way, they gave us a memorable performance. Needless to say, I want to like Dream Chaser, but do we ever get what we want? Who knows… read on!

Exploring South Africa’s Metal Scene: An Interview with Keenan Oakes of Wildernessking & Constelletia

Alright, my fellow basement dwellers, we have our first but not last interview for MER. I had the privilege of speaking with THE band in South African Black Metal. Even if you know nothing about South Africa (shame on you!), you know that Wildernessking (Wilderness and king, do you get it?) is the most important Black/Post Metal band coming from the deep south (Not Alabama, you American-centered people!). Destiny crossed my path with Keenan because I was the first person to get a digital copy of The Writing of Gods in the Sand. Exploiting my special status, I managed to convince Keenan to open this section for us. Needless to say, Keenan is an awesome and fun guy that I can’t wait to have a beer with. But putting my fanaticism aside, I did try to keep it together and ask him questions like his influences, which are close to what you’d expect.

KVAEN – The Formless Fire

KVAEN has been the underground’s darling for a while now. Needless to say, yours truly is a fan of the previous two albums, where KVAEN showcases speed, durability, heaviness, and exceptional songwriting that combines the best of old and new Black Metal. I think I speak for many when I say the expectations for The Formless Fire are huge, and the mightiest band from Kalix (the North of the North) has a monumental task ahead of it. However, this has been a good year for unrealistic expectations, so let’s keep it going, ok?

Alcest – Les Chants De L’Aurore

It’s one of those days! The rare ones when you wake up feeling victorious, refreshed, and ready to take on the world! This unique occasion calls for a fitting soundtrack, and no other band defines the feeling of flying on a cloud towards freedom quite like Alcest. Their last two albums have been certified winners in my feline opinion, but now we’ve got Les Chants De L’Aurore in our claws, and it’s our duty to see if it stacks up in Alcest‘s illustrious catalogue. It’s emotion time!

Your vinyl addiction: three gorgeous LPs issue 2

Welcome to a segment where we embrace your addiction shamelessly. We understand that you might even consider taking out a second mortgage on your house just to keep expanding your collection in a desperate attempt to fill the void deep within your soul. It’s time to succumb to your intrusive thoughts and admire some beautifully crafted LPs that have recently (or not) hit the shelves. I’m not sponsored by any of these bands, labels, or promoters. However, if you’re open to business discussions, let’s talk! After all, all principles bow down before the almighty dollar. Shall we dive in?

Sumac – The Healer

I’ve been dreading this moment for long; it’s almost given me nightmares. No other band in Metal can evoke the feeling of being trapped in your anxious prison like Sumac does. Ever since, I discovered it with What One Becomes, next to everything Sumac touched has been perfection to my ears. However, since May You Be Held, I’ve started to get worried about the direction of the band. It’s almost become a Noise/Jazz band with Metal textures that explores dark mental corners like nobody does; conceptually fascinating, but challenging to sit through. Hence, The Healer has the tough task to add something new to one of the riskiest projects in Post-Metal, without alienating us, the peasantry. Will it succeed?

True kvlt – The Giant Baba, Eisige Venen, JAELYN, June 1974, Ghost Frog and Crystal Sun

In today’s edition of True kvlt, we’re featuring an insane variety of bands and styles. You might think I’m trying to spam you mercilessly, and you’re sort of right. However, they’re all singles! So, if you put them all together, it’ll take the same amount of time that you would otherwise waste watching cat videos instead of doing something productive with your life, like exploring the deep underground. You know It’s time!

Codex Mortis – Tales of Woe

Here at MER, we strive to follow state-of-the-art Metal. However, we sometimes deny our roots, occasionally talking friendly trash about those who came before us. Enter Codex Mortis‘ Tales of Woe, a band trying to capture the spirit of the second wave of Black Metal (but meaner). It’s an extremely difficult task! You might be thinking, “What does The Catto mean? It’s been done to death”. Precisely, my child! How is this going to surprise us when “pure” Black Metal has become a constant trip to the past? Let’s find out!