Melodic Death Metal – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Tsar Stangra -Химните на разрушените светове (Hymns of the Broken Worlds)

Metalcatto

It’s been a while since I last gave a chance to a little band. Tsar Stangra is basically that – I don’t mean it in a disrespectful way. The whole point of this blog is helping bands reach new people. Hymns of the Broken Worlds pretty enigmatic. Is it folk, or death metal? Or both? Also, I could be wrong, but this might be the first or second band with Bulgarian heritage we’ve reviewed. Hence, I know nothing about Bulgarian metal. Still, there should be fair judgement today. Don’t despair!

At the Gates – The Ghost of a Future Dead

Metalcatto

Let’s see how I’m going to navigate this. On one hand, At the Gates is the OG MeloDeath band, a national treasure, and it has suffered an unimaginable loss, which is why we’ll proceed with extra respect. Having said that, nothing in its long and complicated career has made me feel what Slaughter of the Soul once did. That level of speed, aggression, production, and brilliance has yet to be matched. But okay, let’s judge The Ghost of a Future Dead on its own terms.

Obscure Fate – Shaded of a Dying world

Metalcatto

There are very few things as reliable and comfortable as Finnish Melodic Death Metal. You always get exactly what you’re expecting. Obscure Fate brings us an album with a name that again promises consistency: Shades of a Dying World. The only real question is whether this will be genuinely melodic or fall into Arch Enemy-level corny territory. Either way, those guitars will shine. Let’s see.

Legionary – Never-Ending Quest for Purpose

Metalcatto

It brings me joy that a band we reviewed long ago, back when it was nothing but a humble one-man project, is now back with bigger and faster ambitions. So yay! The project didn’t just die and fade into nothingness. We can now enjoy Never-Ending Quest for Purpose by Legionary. Short title, right? Let’s see if this thing has anything to add to the long and often disappointing history of MeloDeath and Thrash.

Mývalyĭr – The Past Tales

Metalcatto

Mývalyĭr is what happens when you blend the epic, storytelling scope of Blind Guardian with the intense seriousness of a band like Eternal Storm or other deeply committed MeloDeath acts. Consequently, its new album, The Past Tales, sounded on paper like an oddball proposition for me, as it combines elements I deeply love with others I’m almost embarrassed to admit I enjoy. The central question was how the band would balance its grandiose, fantastical aspirations with the musical gravitas such themes demand. Honestly, my initial hopes were buried underground, but there’s always room for dreaming, right?

Lost In the Riffstorm 2025: Part 3

Metalcatto

There were several old and new acts we missed this year, so it’s time to give you our two cents. You can get mad sure, or you could just think, well, “I almost forgot that came out, maybe I should check how wrong Catto is.” That’s a great way to find out I’m right. Anyway. Let’s get to it.

Lost In The Riffstorm 2025: Part 1

Metalcatto

It’s that time of the year! When I try to look at the albums we missed because we were too busy covering other releases or making the horrible decision of having a life outside music. You should try it sometime — it’s rewarding and actually pays the bills! Alright, so let’s get to it.

Omnium gatherum – May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way

Metalcatto

Full disclosure: I’m a longtime fan of Omnium Gatherum. I’ve been following them since The Redshift and still consider New World Shadows and Beyond to be Melodic Death Metal classics. (If you haven’t listened to them yet, stop wasting your time and go fix that.) So when May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way dropped, I was all in. That said, I’m not blind to the band’s controversies — It’s always been compared, sometimes unfairly, to its peers. With OG, you never really know what you’re going to get: a genre-defining masterpiece or a divisive curveball. Either way, it’s never boring.

Sun of the Dying – A Throne of Ashes

Metalcatto

I have a complex relationship with Melodic Death Metal. You see, I’m a sucker for all those Death/Doom sad puppy bands that make us want to go back to therapy — but that’s exactly the problem too. Originality is scarce in this niche. So, Sun of the Dying has the difficult task of impressing me in a year when we’ve already had some fantastic releases. However, A Throne of Ashes seems to promise a more varied experience that could break the shackles of old-school MeloDeath — and that’s always hopeful, right?

Age of Ruin – Nothingman

Metalcatto

You people seem to love when we cover small acts that are either only starting their journey in this cruel world or not getting the love they deserve. So, what about Age of Ruin? It’s a good name, but is Nothingman an underground darling, or am I about to be swallowed by derivative riffs? Don’t worry, you know I like rooting for the underdog, and you can count on this cat to give bands a fair chance without the need for a juicy bribe (though honestly, that’d help in this economy!).