Black Metal – Page 16 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Scitalis – Maledictum

It’s hard to stand out in the abyss of common tropes Black Metal often falls into. I know I repeat this often, but it’s genuinely difficult to be surprised lately. How many ways can you play a blastbeat before it becomes background noise? However, Scitalis seems to disagree with me. With Maledictum, its goal is to defy expectations while staying true to the kvlt essence of the genre. Being a Swedish band, I might be a tiny bit biased, but isn’t that what a review is all about? An exercise in bias? Alright, I’ll save the philosophy for later.

True kvlt – Tria Prima, Waldruine,Buzzard & Daniel Neel

Welcome back to another edition of our favorite section of the week: True Kvlt, where you send us your dungeon tapes, and we provide mostly constructive feedback—plus a few bad jokes to keep the audience engaged. Nothing too wild; after all, if you want to make it in the music world, you need to be ready to take a few punches from nameless creatures on the internet. Let’s dive in!

Saor – Amidst the Ruins

Well, I guess this is what the people voted for on Instagram, and since I still believe in democracy (when it suits me), here we are. Honestly, I’ve been procrastinating on this review for a while. I’ve been into Saor since Aura, back when the project was limited by the constraints of being a one-person endeavor. Since then, I’ve enjoyed everything it’s released, even though Origins felt a bit predictable to me. That said, I’m willing to believe that Amidst the Ruins is exactly what Saor needs to continue its evolution. How much more Scottish can these guys get? Like, haggis Scottish? It seems impossible!

Shagor – Lyksalver

Ixone

Have you ever found yourself expecting a certain sound from an album, only to get something completely different—yet undeniably much better? This is what happened to me when I first heard Shagor’s Lyksalver. From my first glance at the album cover, I anticipated a claustrophobic, dense, avant-garde album. What I actually discovered, however, was a hidden gem of melodic Black Metal. With its epic yet melancholic atmosphere that will undoubtedly stir emotions—longing being the most prevalent—Lyksalver is a fun listen, packed with plenty of cool musical moments to savor.

True kvlt: Voragoth, The Host, Bleak Transcendence & Ice Chemicals

It’s Sunday again, which means it’s time to shine a spotlight on our beloved followers and friends who send us their creations every week. We could be like any other site and toss these submissions in the trash, but we (perhaps naively) believe in your capacity to surprise us. These aren’t massive releases, but they often sound like they could be. Let’s dive in!

Urfeind – Dauþalaikaz

Here we go again! It’s one of my reviewer’s favorite niches—German Black Metal—which, according to them, has become synonymous with quality. (Honestly, I think that applies more to German Post/Black, but I’m being a snob.) Anyway, Urfeind is a band that attempts to represent this harrowing and deranged Black Metal school of thought with pride. Dauþalaikaz is an album with that kind of attitude and art. It takes itself seriously, and the real question is if we, the plebs, can take it seriously too.

True kvlt: Misanthropic Planet, Orgone & Shiver Down

Pegah & Metalcatto

Hi there, people! We’re back to our usual Sunday schedule. Your submissions have been piling up, and it was about time I got to them. However, I’m not alone this time; Pegah is also joining us to take a look at some stuff you, our followers and readers, sent. Let’s go!

True kvlt special: Krafthur – Acenando aos Pesadelos do Passado

Ixone

For every Black Metal listener with a preference for ferocity over coldness, this album might just be right up your alley. Judging by the album cover alone, it might not seem that way, but the second the second track (the first one is, of course, an intro) kicks in, you’re in for a wild ride. Having been in production for over four years before finally seeing the light of day, it’s easy to (rightfully) assume that this is a carefully written and well-executed record.

Patriarkh – ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ

I’ll spare you all the now-old drama surrounding the creation of Patriarkh (such a feminist name!). My job is to focus on the music; it’s yours to eat up the gossip. Anyway, in ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, Patriarkh continues its quest to craft the most blasphemous mockery of Slavic Orthodox traditions. Full disclosure: yours truly might speak many tongues but has no clue what’s being said in this album from start to finish. Still, I assume it’s something evil and unholy, but, you’re not reading this for the lyrics. Let’s go!

Top Metal Albums That Perfectly Blend Subgenres in 2024

Metalcatto

This is my weirdest top to date. Some albums can’t be easily pinned to a single label—not because they’re musically bizarre (though that happens, too), but because they combine subgenres so effortlessly that they feel like their own category. This list celebrates that creativity, highlighting some of the most inventive albums of the year. Let’s dive in!