Suffering so you don't have to!
It’s been a while since we paid attention to the leftovers of the Metal world, or in other words, the EPs. As you know, I usually avoid them like the plague, but sometimes it’s good to step out of the comfort zone and try something different. These are a few EPs that managed to keep me awake when all I wanted to do was sleep. That should tell you everything you need to know, right?
If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that we love history at MER. We even do retro-reviews all the time. Not many music genres have as much reverence for the past as Metal does. However, we tend to focus on the big classics and forget the dirt, the crust, and the deep underground where bands live and die, hoping to evade oblivion for just a little longer. That’s why today we have a different type of review. Surrender to Death: A History of the Atlanta Metal Underground Vol. 1 features more than 20 artists. I know nothing about Atlanta except that it has a huge airport, but let’s learn about its old Metal scene, shall we?
Most reviewers at MER have a guilty pleasure, and for some reason, many of us are deeply into the Emo Rock of extreme Metal: Death/Doom. So when something sad hits the mailbox, we all fight for it! Enter Officium Triste, a band that, in Hortus Venenum, is planning to throw a mix of misery, melancholy, and despair at us. All of this is wrapped in a melodic package that could make even the toughest guys cry. But does it succeed in reaching your inner traumas? Grab your pills, and let’s dive into this sea of denial.
The stressful life of a reviewer leads to many tragic mistakes. Some come in the form of missing releases or forgetting about newer acts. Hence, I’m here attempting to sink the ocean with my ship’s cannons (totally pointless, yes) and give attention to some of the many bands that hit MER’s mailbox every day. It’ll never be over, but consider this a futile act of redemption. Rarely have we seen such a strange constellation of bands in the same article, which is always fun, right? Say yes!
When you feel anger, despair, or just good old desolation, it’s hard to find the right soundtrack. I hear you! There’s a lot of heavy bands out there, but not many can truly capture the feeling of being utterly lost in anguish. Har is here to offer something hideous and immoral. You could almost call it Curse Creation. Before you start salivating in a Pavlovian manner, keep reading to find out if this is what your broken spirit needs to accept its inability to recover and live a functional life. Too dark? And we’re only getting started!
The Gods of violence have been kind to me this time! We’ve been given this promo, and there’s no better way to celebrate it than by writing something snobbish about it! Fleshgod Apocalypse needs no introduction. Love them or hate them, no other band does it like they do. It’s also a band willing to take big risks. Ever since Oracles—which, by the way, is one of the best Tech Death albums ever; go get it!—the band has constantly evolved. Since King, the band has embraced its Italian-ness (that’s not a word!) more and more. And though I think Veleno was underrated, you never know what to expect from this band. Opera is ambitious, as its name indicates, but can it join the other great Italian works? Let’s go!
Who is excited about this Nile album? Yay… nobody? Before you feel the rage, I just want to clarify that, like many of you, I agree that the older Nile albums are sacred in the death metal creed. Annihilation of the Wicked, In Their Darkened Shrines, and Black Seeds of Vengeance will always be timeless classics. No other band has sustained a gimmick so long and so well. However, Nile‘s recent efforts have left me cold and doubtful, so my expectations for The Underworld Awaits Us All were low. Let’s see if my hopes can join the army of the undead or actually meet Anubis once and for all.
What started as a cheap PR tactic has become a beloved part of this forgotten corner of the internet (MER). Here, you—the people—send us your work, and we give you a platform so you can brag to your friends and family that you’re now a musician someone writes about. As usual, we’ll give you a bit of praise and a bit of critique. Things we liked and things that… could improve (I sound like your boss now, right?). Time to start!
Hi there! Today, we’ve got in our hands an album that can only be described as strange. I’m talking about Mynskh’s Chapter II – The Last Messiah. It’s supposed to be a Black/Death Metal journey, but honestly, it feels more like a Prog and Post adventure that pulls elements from a ton of other influences. You’ve probably noticed that I’m throwing a lot of sub-genre terms into the mix, so you might be wondering what the heck I’m talking about, because it’s making things less clear. Well, that’s kind of what we’re getting into here—an uncertain adventure, most likely with a tragic end. Let’s dance!
I was there when Ingurgitating Oblivion released Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light. It was album-of-the-year material in what was probably the best year Metal has had in my lifetime. This won’t be a typical review. You see, Ontological Nought isn’t music you listen to for dealing with emotional issues. This is art, and to fully embrace it, I’m pulling out every weapon in my snobbish arsenal. So I hope you’re ready for the most pretentious review since we covered Ulcerate or Aquilus. On y va!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 