Metal Eclipse Reviews

Leila Abdul-Rauf – Andros Insidium

Metalcatto

When I think of 20 Buck Spin—kind of an expensive spin, honestly—I think of old school, rancid, and dirty Death Metal dragged up from the sewers. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Leila Abdul-Rauf has been part of this label forever. Andros Insidium is not the kind of stuff we tend to review around here, but hey, we can always try to break free from our own preconceptions, right? So, forget all the distortion and the edgy riffing for once, because today we’re diving into Dark Ambience.

Doedsvangr – Within The Flesh

Metalcatto

It’s been a while since we’ve had decent Black Metal emerge from the pit. Enter Doedsvangr with Within The Flesh, an album sporting one of those cover arts that makes you take this whole thing way too seriously. I’ve been let down before, so my defenses are high. I can’t be hurt again. Either way, that discussion is for my shrink. In the meantime, let’s wonder just how Norwegian this thing can possibly get.

Trve Kvlt Special: Bragging Rights – A Comedy Divine

Metalcatto

I felt like bullying someone today, so I picked Bragging Rights – A Comedy Divine because I know he can take it. This is how I justify abuse, of course. At MER, we’re very familiar with the almost obsessive way this project churns out records. I do wonder if the title is ripping off Dante, but I’ll give it a pass for once. We have to check out those cymbals anyway.

Arroganz -Death Doom Punks

Metalcatto

Arroganz comes in with an album titled Death Doom Punks, which is such an edgy combination of words that I honestly thought I was reviewing Metalcore again for a moment. But no, this isn’t some poser melodrama. It’s something genuinely serious—as in Death Metal serious. But of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The band will need more than just throwing a few heavy riffs and hippo sounds my way to convince me it’s legit. I’m cranky today if you can’t tell.

Catto writes edgy lyrics part II

Metalcatto

Here we go again in an attempt to capture the spirit of extreme Metal and its lyrical… creativity. Let’s see how it goes!

Double review: Solnegre- Anthems For The Grand Collapse

Metalcatto

Spain isn’t particularly known for its Doom Metal. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it does mean that Solnegre‘s Anthems For The Grand Collapse arrives with little pre-existing noise around it, which honestly feels more like a gift than a curse. I’m approaching this thing with no preconceptions or prejudices, just expecting to get trashed in all the right ways. However, Death/Doom can be so derivative at times that there’s still some level of worry lurking in my dark heart. Let’s see if that concern was justified.

Trve Kvlt #6

Metalcatto

What? Another again? Well, you’re sending too much stuff. I’m trying to keep up!

Trve Kvlt #5

Metalcatto

Shout-outs now!

Mega Colossus – Watch Out!

Metalcatto

Mega Colossus clearly has a thing for size. This Heavy Metal act comes with artwork and an album title that couldn’t be further from each other in terms of what they convey. Everything was telling me this was going to be another okay album, but at the same time, this battered subgenre has had a surprisingly good year so far. Hence, why not dare to not be a total hater for once? Let’s try.

Protrusion – The Last Suppuration

Metalcatto

Protrusion is the name you want to hear when it comes to Death Metal, right? I mean, you clearly didn’t picture cute kittens after reading it. Even less after seeing the album title The Last Suppuration. Nothing optimistic or pure could come out of that combination. The only real question is how pummeling and retro this album is going to be in practice.