Reviews – Page 24 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Décryptal – Simulacre

Metalcatto

It used to be that if you learned English and maybe Swedish or German, you’d be able to understand around 90% of extreme Metal lyrics. However, that’s not true anymore. Now you need French too—because beyond France, Quebec is basically its own Metal country (this isn’t a political statement, don’t kill me!). Décryptal‘s Simulacre is bringing some old school Death Metal that promises to be disgusting enough that we’d actually remember it from the pile. Or at least that’s what the promo claimed. Let’s go!

Witherer -A Shadow Without a Horizon

Metalcatto

It can become difficult with the labels in metal sometimes. Some people abuse them, some don’t believe in them. Then you have bands like Witherer that defy our understanding of them. A Shadow Without a Horizon (uplifting title, really) is supposed to be a Disso-Death/Black/Funeral Doom act. Those three words together almost contradict each other. So, you can imagine that so much risk could end up in disaster or absolute success—but let’s relax, it’s a debut after all.

Incinerated – The Epitome of Transgression

Metalcatto

Metal is full of colorful and almost quirky band names. Incinerated isn’t one of those. If anything, this Indonesian band means business with its proposal. Also, have we noticed how Indonesia has become an extreme Metal powerhouse in the last decade? I wouldn’t be surprised if it hasn’t already become Asia’s biggest producer, but I digress. Time to focus on Epitome of Transgression.

Byzantine – Harbingers

Metalcatto

Byzantine has been going at it for a long time now. Saying that the band has carved its own Prog/Groove/Radio Rock style is one way I can think to compliment its work. So here we have Harbingers. a title that seems to represent the struggles of the parent of an average one-year-old, but I’m sure the album has nothing to do with parenthood sadly (that’d be a bold move in Metal!), and more about something deep and philosophical. Anyway, let’s see what the veterans have for us.

The Feedback Forge: Encelado – Pillars of Creation

Welcome to a new section of the blog, where those who patreon/contribute to the site (see options below) get our most honest feedback possible. This is still a review, but it’s also aimed at telling the band what works—and what needs improvement.

Dolven – In My Grave…Silence

Metalcatto

It’s time for a break—and by that, I mean Metal isn’t always just harshness. It’s a state of mind. Dolven isn’t our usual cup of tea, but I’m kind of tired of people shouting and growling at me, so why not check out In My Grave…Silence, an album that has one of the most sorrowful clean vibes we’ve heard this year (It’s acoustic Doom!). Besides, I love that kind of medieval art. Don’t you?

Eminentia Tenebris -Whispers of the Undying

Metalcatto

It’s been a while since we’ve been to space! It was so hot last year, while now it seems to have cooled down (that’s a fact!). However, Eminentia Tenebris bring us something peculiar in Whispers of the Undying. It’s a space opera! And who doesn’t like those? Especially when they come in the form of Symphonic/Black Metal that has the rawness and drama that Dimmu Borgir has been lacking for the last twenty years. Also, is it possible that for once Antiq didn’t send us something recorded with a potato? Let’s find out!

Putridity – Morbid Ataraxia

Metalcatto

Look at that cover art! Doesn’t it give you a Freudian whiplash? Or remind you of better times? (Before you were born! Those were the days.) Putridity is a Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore band, but you probably figured that out from the album’s colorful title: Morbid Ataraxia. You know this stuff is heavy when you have to check the dictionary to understand just how vile and repulsive the title is. But was it any good? Let’s find out.

Lepra – Mortuus Morgana

Metalcatto

I was supposed to take it easy on local bands, but what can I do if they keep sending me stuff? Lepra, as the name implies, takes itself seriously. These guys clearly loved Kingdom of Heaven (yours truly has more mixed feelings about it), but considering where they come from, Mortuus Morgana should be one of those quiet, under-the-radar releases that doesn’t impress many, right? Well, to be fair, that was just me being condescending. Just because an album shows up without noise or drama doesn’t mean it can’t hit hard.

Cromlech – Of Owls and Eels

Vicky

I’d like to start this off by asking a very honest question: why are there so many bands named Cromlech? Trying to track down the Cromlech that’s about to release Of Owls and Eels is the Black Metal equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. Naming your band “Cromlech” is basically a cooler way to say “Stonehenge,” but I swear there are more Cromlechs out there than bands named Stonehenge—at least judging by what turns up on Encyclopaedia Metallum. I could be wrong, but in the Metal realm, guessing games are half the fun. Anyway, now that we’ve made it through that intro, let’s dig into Of Owls and Eels.