France – Page 2 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Cercle du Chêne – Récits d’Automne et de Chasse

You look at Cercle du Chêne‘s Récits d’Automne et de Chasse art and think, “Oh, this must sound lovely and cute—it’ll remind me of my happy days watching Disney movies.” However, a seasoned reviewer like me sees this art and thinks, “Oh no! This is probably going to sound like Watership Down and have a lot of talking because it’s French Black Metal, and they have to let us know it’s French, you know?” Still, I was curious to see what this strange mix of Dungeon Synth and Black Metal had to offer. I mean, we tend to not even listen to these kinds of albums at MER, but sometimes, the underdogs deserve a chance in life.

Skaphos – Cult of Uzura

It’s been a while since we covered anything coming from animal-loving labels like Transcending Obscurity. So, I went to my collapsed email box and found an album with a cool and Lovecraft-like cover from la France! Of course, I had to give it a go. Skaphos is a Blackened Death Metal band. As a style that many have tried and failed to master, it’s a complex balance between the fury and sorrow of both genres, but Cult of Uzura aims to defy these expectations, and I’m okay with that. In fact, as long as it doesn’t just blast from beginning to end, that’ll be enough for me!

Decline of the I – Wilhelm

I hate being late, but what can I do when all the bands want to release something cool on Valentine’s Day? (so much for being evil music!) Having said that, Decline of the I is probably the last thing you want to put on to set the mood. Wilhelm is an album with layers and horrors that aren’t for that kind of atmosphere (unless you’re reading this carefully, in which case you love anything disturbing and strange). I’ll do my best to even try to define what the album is going for, because this is a wild animal, and I’m not sure we can tame it. But how about we try!

Inborn Suffering – Pale Grey Monochrome

Pegah

Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on Earth.

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

The Great Old Ones – Kadath

If you’re wondering why I’m so late with this review, it’s because we didn’t get the promo, and I had to wait like a total pleb for the album to come out. Humiliating, I know! However, I’m a huge fan of The Great Old Ones. The band has been delivering astonishing and terrifying Lovecraft-inspired Black Metal for more than a decade now. Ever since EOD, I’ve been hooked. So, my expectations are as high as they can get when it comes to Kadath. I almost feel sorry for these guys and the impossible standards they’ll be subjected to.

Zéro Absolu – La Saignée

When I open my magic mailbox, I start salivating because this promo had everything a snob wanted. French? Check! Post/Black Metal? Check! Band members with no names but initials instead? Check! But most importantly, has the band been embroiled in drama as intense as the album? Probably. So here we are, ready to dive into Zéro Absolu and its album La Saignée. It’s basically a French supergroup, so of course, our expectations can’t be realistic.

Monolithe – Black Hole District

Monolithe has the honor (or disgrace, depending on how you look at it) of having two 5.0/5.0 albums in my book: Monolithe II and Monolithe III. Both are masterclasses in Funeral Doom. However, those days of ultra Doom are long gone, and now Monolithe has evolved to such an alienating degree that it feels almost unrecognizable. Yet, it’s still the band in Doom Metal that makes my blood flow the most, reminding me how infinitely insignificant our existence is in the vastness of the cosmos. You might not love every risky step it takes, but I find it refreshing that, despite working within such a focused framework, Monolithe always manages to surprise me. Will Black Hole District be the same?

IXION – Evolution

Alright, Metalcatto is back, and despite all my fellow reviewers covering this week’s epic releases (because deep down, I’m a generous bastard), I wanted to give something outside our usual comfort zone a chance. Have you ever heard of atmospheric, electronic Doom? I hadn’t either, which is why IXION’s Evolution grabbed my attention immediately. I knew the chances of me loving it were low, but you know what? Sometimes I get fed up with the “brahh… brahh… blastbeat, blastbeat, brahh brahhh,” and the French usually defy expectations. So, let’s go!

Ataraxie – Le Décline

Pegah

Le Déclin (meaning The Fall) is the sixth full-length album by the French Funeral Doom Metal band Ataraxie. However, its style isn’t confined to Doom Metal’s subgenres, as some tracks can be categorized as Progressive Death Metal. The first time I listened to Ataraxie, I was thrilled by the sudden changes in rhythms—shifting from calm, low-tempo, Doom-like rhythms to high-speed, Death-like blasts. Specifically, as a Funeral Doom Metal fan, you’ll be surprised by how, in the blink of an eye, they pull you out of the dreary, depressive atmosphere and thrust you into the cruel world, forcing you to face reality.

Retro-Review: Gojira- From Mars to Sirius

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.

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