Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
We have some usual suspects at MER, and one of them is Steve Wiener, who is also behind Am I in Trouble? That was a classic Post-Black project, but can this working-class Black Metal endeavor reach the same quality level? It’s not our first run into Eveale either, but we hadn’t properly checked Enter the Woodland Realm until now. So one can hope to find a few surprises, right? Yes, I’m feeling optimistic today. If you have a problem with that, we can always throw down outside.
SonikGoat
Extreme Metal, in all its guises, seems to oscillate between two states: on one hand, the worship of the comfortingly familiar—usually through the repetitive perfection of rigid forms; on the other, the “outer limits” of Metal serve as a home to a ceaseless churning of these forms. 2024 has seen several excellent releases that together confirm that for every clutch of bands setting out to achieve perfection in older styles, there are those striving to take Metal in new, sometimes startling directions. Thus, we have Blood Incantation fusing ripping Death with the rich analog sounds of seventies Prog Rock and synth; Ingurgitating Oblivion pushing the envelope of avant-garde composition and technicality; or Iotunn fearlessly combining Prog innovation with Heavy Metal passion.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 