Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
Look at that awesome artwork. Doesn’t it make you wonder why almost nobody is willing to make Black-Doom? Is it even possible to make slow Black Metal? I don’t know, but here is Atlantic Ridge with their album Atlantic Ridge (how creative!). It’s a record trying to defy expectations. At this point in my life, I don’t have any. Hopefully, all the challenges come from a band ready to take down my prejudices.
Metalcatto
I see the album has five tracks and almost nothing below the five-minute mark. I started sweating, because when a band is this into length, there are only two ways to go: a blast or a bust. Angellore‘s Nocturnes has no easy task to fulfill. It’s going to be hard to make the time count, but that’s why you’re here—to see if you can find that hidden gem, right?
Metalcatto
You know what we haven’t done in a while? Reviewed some Black N’ Roll. Granted, it’s not the most common release in the mailbox, but that only made me more curious about what Wrang‘s Verwording had to offer. Will it be more static noise, or will it give us a great ride into tribulation? I assume it’s about the sea this time, because my Dutch is at a coma patient level. So let’s start.
Metalcatto
Some would argue—and be kind of right—that pure Black Metal with genuine quality is kind of dead. Let me tell you that I sort of agree with this statement. However, that doesn’t mean we’ve given up the hopeless search. Enter Doodswens‘s self-titled album, a project that is still in diapers but promises a lot. In fact, everything about this thing screams commitment to the craft. Yet, I’ve been let down so many times before that I don’t want to hold my breath.
Metalcatto
Six Feet Under is back, and honestly, I’m terrified. Not because of how ruthless the material could be, but because in case you don’t know, the band has become a meme in our community regarding all the things you shouldn’t do as an old Death Metal band. So is Next to Die going to torture me out of this job? Is it going to be the most painful experience I have this year? You can see that my expectations are at least realistic.
Metalcatto
Time to do something I never do: reviewing a split. There’s just no moment for these eclectic releases. However, Nixil / Drouth‘s Toward Dead Temples caught my attention not only because I’m on a business trip and need a short release that takes less effort than usual—no, no. It’s because this thing radiated Blackened decadent energy, and I’m always in the mood for something like that. Aren’t you?
Metalcatto
I know we mostly review super underground and legit extreme Metal around here. However, sometimes I need a break from all your edgy promos. Premier Jester is electro Metalcore. If that’s not terrifying enough for you, the album is titled Turn You On. I know what you’re thinking: does this sound like it was written by a twelve-year-old? You’ve gotta stick around to find out. It’s time to leave my comfort zone.
Metalcatto
Let’s see how I’m going to navigate this. On one hand, At the Gates is the OG MeloDeath band, a national treasure, and it has suffered an unimaginable loss, which is why we’ll proceed with extra respect. Having said that, nothing in its long and complicated career has made me feel what Slaughter of the Soul once did. That level of speed, aggression, production, and brilliance has yet to be matched. But okay, let’s judge The Ghost of a Future Dead on its own terms.
Metalcatto
Mistakes were made. Some by me, some by the rest of the MER staff—you know who you are, I’ll find you. So this is the time for us to acknowledge the most important releases that I kept procrastinating to the point that I forgot and then said, “well, shoot. Now I need to write something short about them.” Let’s go.
Metalcatto
Old School Death Metal time. Funebrarum is exactly what you expect when I say those words, but fear not—Beckoning the Void of Eternal Silence is attempting to mix things up a bit. We’ll have to judge if the album succeeds at that, but for the moment, rest assured that I won’t be sugar-coating anything. I get more albums like this than potatoes for lunch. I already hate them, but hopefully this one doesn’t get that bad. I mean, you can’t overboil Death Metal and also forget the salt, right?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 