Reviews – Page 51 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Harkane – Argo

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!

Pillar of Light – Caldera

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.

Kir – L’appel du Vide

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.

Mörk Gryning – Fasornas Tid

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.

Adamantra – Act III: Pareidolia of Depravity

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.

Svarttjern – Draw Blood

Stargazer Scholar

Let us play a little game, shall we? I’m going to name a subgenre of Metal and you will quickly come up with three associations it evokes. Ready? Just promise not to overthink it, OK? Great, I knew I could count on you!

And our genre is… ‘Black Metal!’

Panzerchrist – Maleficium Part I

It’s time to return to no-nonsense, unapologetic Black Metal that can tear us a new one any day of the week. So, I bring you Panzerchrist (ask the AI to draw this name, please!) and its new album Maleficium Part I, which promises a level of fury and hysteria that many of you have been missing. You know Black Metal these days—it can get a bit complicated. Don’t you miss some meat and potatoes? Well, I think that’s what we’ve got here—or maybe not? It’s time to find out. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about this album’s approach.

Againt I – Songs for the Dying

It’s tricky to pick the last album to review this year before we all dive into top lists and rankings for the holidays. This is the perfect chance to explore some of the more discreet releases that might otherwise get drowned out by the noise. When I first checked out Against I‘s Songs for the Dying, two opposing thoughts crossed my mind: “It looks like Brave Murder Day, but it can’t be that good”, and also, “It can’t be produced that poorly either”. With that calculated, almost sociopathic train of thought, I put Songs for the Dying on. Let me tell you if it delivered.

Ulver – Liminal Animals

Here we are, reviewing one of the most important and influential bands in Metal, yet one that hasn’t actually played much of it in decades. Ulver is a master of alienating its fanbase with every release, and Liminal Animals is no different. It follows the Electronic and Pop elements of its previous entry, but this time, there’s a different tone. The band is recovering from an irreplaceable loss, so I’ll keep the humor—just with extra respect, ok? So, what can we expect from the most Metal non-Metal band out there? Let’s dive in!

Project: Ultimate Satan – The Opus Satanas

Project: Ultimate Satan—now that’s a name I want to shout out loud in front of all my Metal friends (if I had any). They’d be so puzzled, thinking I was talking about some reality show. But enough jokes. Opus Satanas actually brings something interesting to the table. I’d define it as Symphonic Metal that devolves into Death Metal. It’s been a while since we’ve had a proposal like this, and honestly, I needed a break from all the “bark bark bark, dum dum dum” on repeat. So, let’s get to it!