Black Metal – Page 9 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Blackbraid – Blackbraid III

Metalcatto

Our favorite Black/Folk act that’s not really that Folk is here! Most of us were there when Blackbraid took the Metal world by storm with a short, effective album that captured our imagination. It was Black/Folk that didn’t bastardize its own roots — no gimmicks, just music as a tool to tell a story. Then Blackbraid II hit us, showing the full potential of a project that kept people debating the real cultural background of its creator. Personally, I have little interest in judging people’s identities; as long as they treat the matter with respect, I have no problem. So, can Blackbraid III surprise us?

Rauhnåcht – Zwichenwelten

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.

Grimovetust – Gates To Heptagon Tower

Ixone

It’s high time I leave aside any sort of thought that indicates that I know what I’m doing and just admit that this album left me scratching my head quite a lot. Having bothered to look into the background of Grimovetust before diving into Gates To Heptagon Tower I was certain that I was in for a scratchy, raw record with the most amount of grit possible. That being said, one can only imagine my surprise when the first thing I heard was a rather triumphant synth intro, soon followed by a reverb enhanced, fairly melodic piece of music, closer in sound to First Spell rather than A Blaze in the Northern Sky. At that point I was certain that I was about to have several grapes with this record, but something seemed hellbent on telling me otherwise…

Abigail Williams – A Void Within Existence

Stargazer Scholar

I like it when bands take their time between records. Longer breaks leave the audience with a fair chance of truly understanding the artist’s vision, while the artists themselves are given plenty of time to evolve and produce their finest work without having to rush it. OK, I know that this view is somewhat idyllic, as it ignores label pressure and other natural constraints, but lo and behold, here’s our case in point. The trajectory of Abigail Williams is exemplary in that regard. As the gaps between the band’s output seem to grow, the music itself is becoming increasingly mature and compelling. We had six years at our disposal to imbibe, dissect and revisit the gripping Walk beyond the Dark, and now here we are with A Void Within Existence, the cover art shocking with its gloomy detachment, the title oozing pain, and the music… Well. let’s explore.

True kvlt: Vyr Muk, Electrocutioner & Obšar

Metalcatto

It’s that time of the week again, when I take the most polite emails I’ve got and give them a few words of encouragement—and maybe some constructive feedback—because we all know most readers are feeling down and miserable, so why should I kick them even more? Okay, okay, enough of getting personal, let’s get to it!

Zeicrydeus – La Grande Hérésie

Metalcatto

When we talk about retro-Metal at MER, we usually end up talking about rancid Death Metal or potato-production Black Metal. However, rarely do we run into a band like Zeicrydeus; one that’s honestly hard to define beyond saying “these guys play a bunch of Metal that reminds me of what dad used to put on here and there.” La Grande Hérésie should be promising just by the fact of having a French title. You know, that usually means this is going to be excellent or cause me indigestion. Let’s start!

Sarastus – Agony Eternal

Ixone

Ever ended up in that situation when you know an album is going to be good just because the band’s discography is flawless? If you haven’t I only have one word to say to you: Sarastus. Despite it appearing like my bias for Finnish Black Metal is doing the talking again (I am too stubborn to just stop pretending that I don’t start drooling when I see that exact tag), I think that the response to their latest record, Agony Eternal indicates that I haven’t lost the plot quite completely.

Ba’al – The Fine Line Between Heaven And Here

Metalcatto

It’s been a while since I reviewed a band I had absolutely no idea about going in. Ba’al didn’t arrive with a wave of hype or drama. It just had solid artwork — and sometimes, that’s all you need to get curious minds clicking. Humans are, after all, visual creatures. But you’re here to find out whether The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here is worth your time and money, or if it’s dragging us straight into sonic hell. Big questions, I know — but let’s see if we can wrangle some answers out of this beast.

Ancient Torment – Follow the Echo of Curses

Metalcatto

I’ve seen it all when it comes to band names — from great to terrible — which is why Ancient Torment feels just right. Not too fancy, not too simple. It fits what the band is doing here. It’s not often that a debut sends all the right signals from the start, so I’m expecting something at least decent from Follow the Echo of Curses. And you can’t blame me. How else would I face this job if I didn’t believe in bands? I’d just be another bitter Metal elitist reviewer, I guess — which might make good ragebait. Hmm, maybe I should think about that. Anyway, let’s dive in.

Blind Equation – A Funeral In Purgatory

Metalcatto

Ok, you might be wondering. Do we like manga and anime at MER? To which I say: I don’t represent everyone on the crew, but maybe? I’m no Otaku, but I know a Japanese-inspired product when I see it, and Blind Equation’s A Funeral In Purgatory looks exactly like that. My hopes are rather low, but I’m also sick of reviewing music from the worst toilet at the gas station. I could use a breather — or some good old weirdness. Let’s see if this is what I need to keep going on this endless path.