Apocalyptic Witchcraft – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Flowers of Rust -Crude Exhibitions of the Soul

Ixone

I am suspecting just a tiny little bit that upon being sent the promotional materials for this album, the choice for this one specifically might just have been a bit personal (opening track “Eigengrau”, I am looking at you). But here I am barely having started the article and already going off on pointless tangents. Flowers of Rust is a project that I have come to know through this album, so I was diving into it with nothing to go off except its description from the previously mentioned material, which, considering my taste lately has been venturing into different corners of black metal, I was a little.. concerned about my capacity of being objective.

Wyrdstæf – Primordial Bloodlines

Metalcatto

In my short career as a reviewer, I’ve heard all sorts of weird, excessive, and even funny names for subgenres. However, “Paleolithic Black Metal” is a new one for me. Wyrdstæf is trying to travel in time to return to the times before agriculture. Primordial Bloodlines takes itself rather seriously, and though I’m not a historian, I’m skeptical of all these gimmicks that try to portray old times in some romanticized way. So, bear with me, I’m going to be a total snob here, or not. I slept bad!

Hebephrenique – Decathexis

Metalcatto

When the band is named Hebephrenique and the album is titled Decathexis, you know they aren’t here to play My Little Pony. If anything, you should expect something that would ruin your breakfast harder than massive layoffs at your workplace. It’s been a while since we reviewed some sick Black/Death Metal around here. 2025 will be hard to top in that department, but that doesn’t mean we should disregard the underground so quickly.

Suffering – Things Seen But Always Hidden

Metalcatto

Black/Doom isn’t a thing, right? They seem to contradict each other in practice. However, Suffering is a band that’s trying to embody the most disturbing parts of Halloween. Things Seen But Always Hidden is an album aimed at those of you who love the occult, the macabre, and the idea of sacrificing stuffed animals at the altar of the unholy one. I approached this review with fascination but also caution. So many things felt new yet familiar that I couldn’t make up my mind at first, but now it’s time.