Milo Lane
As a fan of all things retro, there had to come a time for my first ever retro-review — late as usual, but that just means the album had more time to become retro, don’t you think?
Retro-Review: Moonsorrow – Voimasta ja kuuniasta
Tag: Black Metal
Interview: Deconstructing the Night – Asenath Blake’s Philosophy of Black Metal
Metalcatto
We’ve done many interviews at MER now—some nerdy, some about war, some about mental struggles—but today, I bring you something different. Asenath Blake is here to talk to us about her work, and more importantly, about its philosophy. That’s not new in metal; so many black metal musicians are inspired by old books. But how about one that gets us out of our comfort zone?
Weft – The Splinter Oar
Metalcatto
The year is almost over. I’m led to believe that the best of the year has passed, that the only thing left is the struggle of picking the best albums this so, so year produced. Yet, a project with an unsurprising name comes in. Weft’s The Splinter Oar reached me with no expectations. I literally picked the album in a rush before leaving home to use it as a soundtrack for my journey to the coal mine. With this little information, we can jump right in!
Morte France – Hesperia
Metalcatto
Another Black Metal band from France, aaaaah!!! I’m excited. You know nothing mixes like those two when it comes to giving you an interesting experience. However, Morte France wants to do something different with Hesperia: it wants to reconcile Paganism and Christianity, which is like making pasta and chocolate sauce fit well together (food analogies are safe, they don’t offend anyone!). So, this album set some solid expectations for me, which is why I was afraid of ending up with endless disappointment — but let’s get to it.
True kvlt: Mørkeheimen, Strawberry Lust, Red Skies Dawning, S.Y.G.M.A, Profiler
Metalcatto
Too many bands! Click now!
Blut Aus Nord – Ethereal Horizons
Metalcatto
Not many bands can embody the meaning of the term eras like Blut Aus Nord. We have the Vetusta saga, the 777 saga, Disharmonium. A band that basically invented a niche with The Work Which Transforms God (a 5/5 in my list). I’m a huge fan if you haven’t noticed. So comparing Ethereal Horizons with the rest of the band’s work was way more challenging than I expected. All of its albums are different, and yet they share the same identity. So, where to put this one? Let’s see!
True kvlt: Vessels, Souls of Sorrow, Desu Taem, Chaos Over Cosmos
Metalcatto
Skip this part already!
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.
True kvlt: Enemynside, Haast Hunter, Halcyon, & Vyr Muk
Metalcatto & Vicky
No time! Let’s go!
Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy
Metalcatto
It’s so frustrating when I get a promo in my mailbox but simply don’t have enough days to review it before it’s out. Anyway, many of our followers have already given their takes on this album. Full disclosure: I had no clue who Lamp of Murmuur was or why so many nerds were hyped about The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy. And if I’m even more honest, this year’s pure Black Metal hasn’t impressed me much. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream, right? I’m ready to be converted into something else.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 