Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
This is a tough one. There are few bands more respected and loved than Enslaved in our colourful little community. However, I haven’t been genuinely happy with the band’s output since Axioma Ethica Odini. Well, though Riitiir was pretty good, but surely we can still have some hope for Mið. It’s Enslaved, after all. They should be able to sell us a convincing story and take us somewhere interesting, right? Let’s go, pagans! There are wars to lose out there!
Metalcatto
Wolves in the Throne Room had the disgraceful luck of releasing a genre-defining album early in their career. Yes, we’re talking about Two Hunters. Ever since that peak, the band has truly struggled to capture my attention. So, Estuary has a titanic task ahead of it: break the pattern or give us even more of the same stuff we’ve been getting for the last 20 years. I have zero faith, guys. Just saying.
Metalcatto
Eclectic is a great adjective to describe whatever Mental Cruelty is doing. Back in the day, I reviewed Zwielicht for another website. I liked it, so I’m excited to see whether the band has changed on Echoes of a Forlorn Land or remains the same. The guys have now mixed Nordic mythology into their sound. Does that mean this is Viking Deathcore? Truly horrifying. Let’s start.
Metalcatto
IIt’s strange, to say the least, to find a Black Metal band with an album named Dystopolis. You’d think this was some sad Post-Metal record that makes you want to stare at the wall on a rainy day, but no! We have our decadent and drunken riffs back and forth from Seid, or so I thought when I read the promo. Perhaps I’ve misjudged the situation, though. Stay with me!
Metalcatto
It’s been 10 years since Hyperion released album-of-the-year material with Seraphical Euphony (I was there!). At this point, I figured they were either dead or employed, which is why we never heard from them ever again. However, here we are. I lived long enough to see Elysia happen. Can it even come close to topping its predecessor? Not an easy task, but for once, I want to believe.
Metalcatto
In the depth of my ignorance, I didn’t know that Spirit Possession was a big deal. So I’m here to correct that mistake. The band delivers this harsh Black Metal that, despite being stuck to some traditions, has lots of nuances. It makes sense to think that Cathedral Speech could be more than just a decent album, but we’ve gotta go through this ordeal and see if we’re made for it.
Metalcatto
Time to give back to the deep underground. We’ve talked about HKSPK—I know, it sounds like the name of a K-pop band—before in our feedback special, but today we’re not pulling any punches. We’ll review Heimkehr with all the brutality of the law. The guys had their chance, so now they’re going to get a full review and get judged like a proper high-league act. Okay, I’m just scaring people off now, but I had to raise the stakes, right?
Metalcatto
If you’re into Post/Black, you should be familiar with Your Ultimate Urban Nightmare. If you’re not, well, here I am helping you. Ever since then, Bonjour Tristesse has done the same as the novel with the same name—puzzle me. Many times, not in the best way. Having said that, I do expect Disaster Triumphant to be more than decent. Even if it’s different to the point where I feel alienated.
Metalcatto
It’s been a while without Black Metal from the basement. So here we have Taufpatin with an album named Les Malfaisances de la Taufpatin. Ridiculously long title, I know. This should be good, right? It has, in principle, what I’m looking for. However, even I can get a bit fed up with French Metal, but let’s see.
Metalcatto
Usually, I wouldn’t even bother to check a remake or remaster, but Saor is a band I’ve long wondered about: what could they sound like if they had more budget? Not many projects get enough cash to do it all over again, which is why I wanted to check if Caledonia revived the classics or just butchered them harder than Disney. I’m careful today, but a man can dream.
