Suffering so you don't have to!
It’s Doom time! I know it might seem like we at MER have an anti-Doom agenda. Nothing could be further from the truth! However, this hasn’t been exactly the most Doom-filled year. That doesn’t mean we can’t run into interesting work. Look at what Solemn Ceremony brings to the table: rough and crusty music that promises to transport you to a much more relaxed world, away from the miseries of your anxious existence. Does it succeed, or can nothing save you from yourself? Slowly, we’ll find out.
Sometimes at MER, we want to show that we can do more than just review the most brutal and godless albums the internet can throw at us. We also enjoy some good Sludge or Stoner Rock. Yes, it’s even more niche and bad for our pathetic money ambitions, but for now, we have principles. Orange Goblin is what happens when you combine Mastodon, Sleep, and Electric Wizard. You’re going to feel the spices going up your bloodstream and down your toilet seat. So, where to put Science, Not Fiction in a long and illustrious career? Let’s see!
It’s time for something more idiosyncratic! At first glance, you might think there’s nothing too strange about Forgotten Tomb, but the more you delve into its work, the more you realize how little MeloBlack has been mixed with Doom Metal. “That’s a killer combo!” you might say, and that’s exactly what Nightfloating is about. But does it work, or does it float over our heads? (I’m so getting fired after that joke.) Forgive my poor comedic timing and stay with us!
There are moments as a reviewer when you wonder if you’ve heard it all. Le temps détruit tout (time destroys everything), so I do wonder if there’s anything left before I become a cranky reviewer who doesn’t see the sunlight and can’t get off the floor without using my hands for support (oh, you feel addressed? Maybe you should!). Despite this, I welcomed Totengott‘s Beyond the Veil with no prejudices. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a strange and uncertain journey. Tag along!
Here we go again! We have a few EPs and albums submitted by you, our beloved readers who keep our hearts pumping but bring no food to our tables (how do you feel about that, you freeloaders?). That’s okay, I’ll forgive you for now… let the judging begin!
Here we go again, encountering Drift Into Black with an album named Voices Beneath the Rubble, a band that seems to defy labels the more you delve into their music. Initially, one might attempt to pigeonhole them into genres like Doom, Goth, or MeloDeath, but the deeper you listen, the less it conforms to such categorizations. Voices Beneath the Rubble, a name as dark as it is intriguing, promises uniqueness while hinting at accessibility, even for newcomers to its sound. But does it truly achieve this elusive balance? The answer awaits a click.
The sun shines this morning; the warmth hits me and makes me feel like hope is within reach. There’s a brief moment of joy in this peace and calm. Wouldn’t it be awesome to ruin all that with some Stoner/Doom Metal straight from Albany, NY? You’re right, that’s exactly what we should do, which is why today, we’re going to talk about Carnwennan – Lotus, an album that promises to burn down any feelings of happiness you were planning to have today. I know you like pain, so let’s just stop the nonsense and judge if this debut (yes, another one) breaks us or not.
Welcome to Retro-Reviews, a space where I indulge in my own nostalgic reveries, reminiscing about a time that never truly existed, but one that I’ve crafted through various random albums that hold significance for me. Whether good or bad, one thing is certain: remembering can be a bittersweet journey.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 