EP Special: Voidspire – Vacant Towers

Vicky

I know it’s been quite some time since I last reviewed an album for you dear people, however not only am I back now, but Catto handed me a dangerously powerful weapon, which is Voidspire’s debut EP, Vacant Towers. So, before we dig into this material, there are two questions I am sure you are already asking yourselves – who are the people in Voidspire and why is their music dangerous? Shockingly, both questions have the same answer: the band is Norwegian and they play death/black metal. I’m not sure where the “atmospheric” part of the aforementioned genres appears in Voidspire’s songs, but according to Encyclopaedia Metallum, these people have a more melodic approach to those genres that I, for one, would have dared to call even… symphonic.

Hebephrenique – Decathexis

Metalcatto

When the band is named Hebephrenique and the album is titled Decathexis, you know they aren’t here to play My Little Pony. If anything, you should expect something that would ruin your breakfast harder than massive layoffs at your workplace. It’s been a while since we reviewed some sick Black/Death Metal around here. 2025 will be hard to top in that department, but that doesn’t mean we should disregard the underground so quickly.

Vomitory – In Death Throes

Metalcatto

The Death Metal band with the sexiest name ever is back. If Vomitory‘s In Death Throes is as good as anything the band has offered in its last two albums, then we can all go home happy and relieved that another OG band still has something to give to the world. Let’s not lie—this project restores our faith in brutality. There’s little to be worried about, right?

Lago – Vigil

Metalcatto

With artwork like that, you know this isn’t an album for grandma. Yet Lago is setting up expectations in a way that’s dangerous, because we absolutely judge a book by its cover. Vigil is supposed to be Death Metal that splits us all in two, but honestly it’s going to take more than just brutal blasting to impress me this time. I’m feeling demanding today. The bar is high, the patience low, and the coffee has worn off.

Gaerea – Loss

Metalcatto

Alright, it’s time. One of the most anticipated releases of the year has finally arrived. Love it or hate it, but nobody remains indifferent to Gaerea. I was skeptical at the beginning myself, and I still think Limbo remains their best work, though Coma came frustratingly close to dethroning it. So the question is: how is Loss going to top a remarkable run that almost no band has managed in the last ten years? We’ll see.

Trve Kvlt Special: Bragging Rights – A Comedy Divine

Metalcatto

I felt like bullying someone today, so I picked Bragging RightsA Comedy Divine because I know he can take it. This is how I justify abuse, of course. At MER, we’re very familiar with the almost obsessive way this project churns out records. I do wonder if the title is ripping off Dante, but I’ll give it a pass for once. We have to check out those cymbals anyway.