Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
Hi there! It’s about time we check what we’ve missed this year. We get thousands of promos, and some good stuff is bound to end up in the junk folder—or worse, just buried under all the PR. Anyway, I wanted to focus on the peculiar Prog music that hasn’t had as much attention as it should so far. Notice I’m just using the term “Prog” generally instead of “people who play wacky music that will demand a music degree from you.” But let’s stop wasting time and begin!
Metalcatto
Here we go again—everyone’s favorite niche genre: Black Metal solo projects. But before you run away like you owe me money, let me tell you that Rauhnåcht actually has a label, plays more Folk than Atmospheric, and the production is surprisingly acceptable. That should be enough to entice you—or, if you’re Ixone, to totally disappoint you. Either way, let’s find out what Zwischenwelten is all about. We all have things to do and places to be, after all.
Metalcatto
Alright people, it’s been a few days of me reviewing popular bands that have almost made me regret this job. I need the underground to restore my faith in Metal! Luckily, Crimson Butchery brings us Stalker straight from the depths of hell. I mean that—just look at that grotesque artwork. The real question for me was whether the production would do justice to the music or just make it all disgusting in the wrong way. Let’s find out!
Metalcatto
Well, here we go again. We’ve actually got another band that was in Eurovision. Lord of the Lost is a kind of Gothic Metal act that caters to the edgy kids who never quite moved past harsh vocals in their Metal journey. So, you might be wondering—am I just covering Opus Noir Vol. 1 to vent my deeply rooted intolerance for the mainstream world? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try to be fair.
Metalcatto
I’m going to try something new and difficult for once. First, reviewing Dropout Kings’ Yokai, which is the closest we’ve come to covering a completely different music genre. Second, being honest yet respectful, given the irreplaceable human loss the band has recently suffered. So, despite my deep-seated disdain for most Nu-Metal or Hip-Hop, I’m willing to change (unlike your parents!). Let’s dive in—because that cover art promises madness.
Metalcatto
You guys are sending me so much stuff lately, so no need for an intro, let’s go!
Metalcatto
Ursawrath has the kind of name that reminds me of the good old days of the Soviet Union (you know, during the Great Purge and so on). That’s obviously not meant as praise, but it certainly grabbed my attention. Emergence seemed promising to me. It’s been a good year for Thrash—especially for young, hungry bands proving that the most politically subversive of all Metal subgenres is alive and well. Now the real question is whether Ursawrath can break the cycle and offer something truly its own, or if I’m just staring down the barrel of another nostalgia trip I never signed up for. Stay with me and find out.
Metalcatto
There’s something you need to know about me as a proud Stockholmer: I can’t miss a chance to make fun of Gothenburg. So you can imagine my disappointment when I got LOMMI‘s 667788 (or as I like to call it, grandpa’s password) and not a single member was named Glenn or Jimmy. You’d have to be deep in the culture to get that joke. Still, I promised myself I’d put my prejudice aside and give this Heavy/Groove Metal outfit a fair shot. Will I be biased because of city rivalries? Absolutely. But I’ll try to behave.
Metalcatto
If you’ve been following us for a bit, you might think I’m just a Death/Black type of Metalhead. However, my beginnings in the Metalsphere are closer to Prog than anything else—and I mean the joyful type, 90s Prog! Which is why Connect the Circle caught my attention right away. Wolf in the Sky not only promised to be conceptual (it’s about a volcanic eruption!), but also to deliver that lost sound with a fresher touch. Am I being nostalgic for once? Maybe, but it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want!
Metalcatto
It’s been a long time since I felt genuinely excited about a promo. Kayo Dot needs no introduction. Ever since the release of the landmark Choirs of the Eye, the band has made a career out of defying what Metal—and music itself—can be. Even when its ideas go over most of our heads, the promise of uncertainty has always been part of its DNA. Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason continues that legacy. As always, we have no idea where the band is heading next, and for better or worse, my expectations were sky-high. What could possibly go wrong when you’re biased toward weird music, right?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 