Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
Hi there, my depressed people of the internet! I know True kvlt usually doesn’t come out on Fridays, but a) I’m terribly busy living the summer life, and b) I recently joined Groover, and these are the projects that got my attention so far. They’re diverse and don’t exactly match my usual taste, but they definitely raise the quality of this section—not exactly known for its prestige. But hey, what can I do if you guys submit better stuff? Let’s go!
Metalcatto
Azure Emote’s Cryptic Aura is what happens when you combine Monstrosity with Eluveitie and Sirenia. If that sounds bizarre to you, you’re not alone. I wasn’t sure what to expect from such an eclectic group of musicians. To be honest, I had little time to overthink it—just got back from vacation, still in a food coma—but I figured this was a worthy shot to give a band some exposure. Whether that turns out good or bad remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: it’ll be honest. Even money can’t change our strong opinions at MER!
Metalcatto
It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed some good old school Death Metal. Honestly, after everything that happened in 2024, I’ve gotten dangerously close to becoming a hater. It’s just hard to stay excited when the scene feels so oversaturated. Still, despite the genre fatigue, new bands continue to dive into the old school trenches like it’s 1992 all over again. One of these brave souls is Malformed, who arrive with the debut Confinement of Flesh. This record is supposed to bring something fresh to the table, but you’ll have to excuse my skepticism — I’ve heard that before.
Metalcatto
Let me say something straight: I meant to review this way earlier, but life (and summer holidays) got in the way. Even after the delay, I couldn’t bring myself to ignore Floating. A band claiming to mix Death Metal with Post-Punk? That doesn’t happen every day. I needed to hear it to believe it! Hesitating Lights might just be that weird record that ends up on the “best genre fusion” list by the end of the year. Or am I being overly optimistic? Is it too soon? I don’t know—but let’s get to work, ok?
Metalcatto
t’s been a while since I looked into a German band that wasn’t making some weird and sad Post/Black. Mouth of Madness is hard to define. Sometimes it feels like a Black/Thrash band, and other times like dirty Death Metal. What I’m sure of is that Event Horizon isn’t an album that’s going to leave anyone indifferent. The band might have been quiet for a long time, but this new release is clearly aiming to put them back on the map. Time to unfairly judge whether it succeeds—or if it’s just talking crazy (see what I did there? Don’t hit me!).
Pegah
“Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground“
Oscar Wilde
Metalcatto
I usually don’t give much context about the bands we review at MER, but this time is different—and not just because it’s a Swedish band again. Eternal Darkness – Eternal Darkness is a debut that took 35 years to get done. I wasn’t even born when the first idea for it started emerging! And yet, I find out the band has already split. Dead before being properly born—well, it can’t get more Death Metal than that. Let’s get to it!
Stargazer & Elyna
Stargazer Scholar
Once upon a time, the little Stargazer was in the car with his dad. They were listening to the radio and a rock song came on. I could not remember its title or the artist for the life of me (no Shazam back then, alas), but I will never forget the exact moment when the guitar solo came on.
Metalcatto
Yes, I’ll be honest, I saw Fermento’s Acts of Blood artwork and thought: “This is exactly what I need on a hot summer day.” There’s nothing like indulging in some self-inflicted sonic punishment. That, and the fact that there aren’t many bands pushing this Death/Black hybrid from Spain. At first, I assumed it was from Eastern Europe, but I quickly realized I was dealing with a group that’s been part of the extreme Metal underground since the early days of the Spanish scene. At MER, we don’t hand out veteran points just for longevity—but this time, an exception might be earned.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 