Metal Blade Records – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Igorrr – Amen

Metalcatto

This has been a week dedicated to everything strange in Metal, so what better way to head into the weekend than with the weirdest of them all? It’s Igorrr, the embodiment of French weirdness. With a long career of unpredictable Avant-Garde, Electronic, and Classical influences, the project has stayed consistently risky as the years have passed. The real question now is whether Amen can keep giving us something new, or if we’re finally going to get fed up with the gimmick. I mean, there has to be a moment when this starts to feel like an AI summary, right?

Byzantine – Harbingers

Metalcatto

Byzantine has been going at it for a long time now. Saying that the band has carved its own Prog/Groove/Radio Rock style is one way I can think to compliment its work. So here we have Harbingers. a title that seems to represent the struggles of the parent of an average one-year-old, but I’m sure the album has nothing to do with parenthood sadly (that’d be a bold move in Metal!), and more about something deep and philosophical. Anyway, let’s see what the veterans have for us.

Rivers Of Nihil – Rivers Of Nihil

Stargazer Scholar

Believe it or not, I became a Rivers Of Nihil fan before Owls. Yes, yours truly is a Monarchy convert. The American Extreme Progressive Metal act started out in the atmospheric Tech-Death realm, yet the subsequent inclusion of saxophones and clean vocals made their third album, Where Owls Know My Name, blow up. And well-deserved. But my own relationship with the band began a few years prior, when I was taken aback by the sultry density of the sophomore. The musicians themselves may have gone on record lamenting the underwhelming reception of their second opus, but its importance for the band’s discovery of its own identity is hard to overlook. The Owls I have already referred to, and 2021’s The Work brought along further exploration, as the Rivers flowed into even more experimental waters. I hope you’re feeling as hyped for the 2025 self-titled album as me then, as you never really know what to expect with this talented bunch. Where to now? Was the band able to get over the departure of the lead vocalist? Will we get our sax again? Ah, so many questions.

Messa – The Spin

I have two awkward confessions. First, I almost forgot we’ve got this promo because, well, I now get more emails than a professor on sabbatical. Second, though, Messa has always been interesting and engaging—it’s a band that never really caught me. It always felt like retro-Metal to me, but now that I give The Spin a spin (don’t hit me!), could my opinion finally change? The band has been at it for a while, but it’s never too late for me to start a redemption arc, right?

Allegaeon -The Ossuary Lens

Stargazer Scholar

Allegaeon is a daunting band. No, the musicians don’t wear corpsepaint, and no, they don’t employ spooky dissonant chords to ward off the casual listener. It’s just that their discography is so amazingly solid. One may prefer certain records to the others, but come on—none of those albums is anything less than highly enjoyable. So imagine the feelings that tormented me during the anticipation of The Ossuary Lens: Will this unlikely career-long run of form continue, or will the band finally allow itself a misstep? Well, no spoilers—you’ll have to read the whole thing.

Kardashev – Alunea

Let me say this over and over: One of the most underrated albums of this decade so far is Liminal Rite. Kardashev proved it could dominate almost every flavor of extreme Metal with that record, so you can imagine how utterly frozen I was when I got the promo for Alunea. I didn’t just play it—I threw myself into it, waiting for greatness with expectations so monstrous it’d make most bands collapse under the pressure. But here’s the kicker: I refused to believe this project could disappoint. Kardashev has already mastered its own strain of Progressive Metal—a sound so distinct it gives it license to take risks no other band could survive. Now, the only question left was: Would it work?

Whitechapel – Hymns in Dissonance

There’s no way around Whitechapel—it’s a band with a fiercely loyal fanbase that’s stuck with it through thick and thin. So, let’s get this out of the way: I’m fully aware that diving into Hymns in Dissonance might summon the wrath of the internet. You might be wondering, “Why even review something so ‘Core’?” After all, it’s almost a tradition at MER to trash the whole niche. But hey, someone’s gotta take one for the team, right? We’re aiming for more journalistic integrity these days, and being open-minded is part of the deal. Plus, if there’s one band that’s managed to elevate the genre, it’s Whitechapel, so why not give it the benefit of the doubt for once?

Iotunn – Kinship

Stargazer scholar

Some bands deserve more than a simple review. Some albums deserve an elegy. It is well-nigh impossible to give a verbal description to the whirling tangle of emotions they evoke, but this is why music exists in the first place – to channel sentiments that evade other mediums of expression. In a hopeless attempt to perceive the divine machinery of art, we can only aspire to arouse curiosity in others with the humble means at our disposal. And it is with this hope that I bid you welcome to the world of Iotunn‘s Kinship.

Ensiferum – Winter Storm

Elyna Kahn

Ensiferum will release its highly anticipated album Winter Storm soon! Renowned for its Melodic Death Metal sound, the band has built a successful career since forming in 1997. The 2020 album Thalassic achieved significant success, propelling Ensiferum to world tours before the pandemic ruined everything. Now, four years later, the band is back with Winter Storm, an album that promises to captivate fans with its powerful blend of Viking Folk Metal and evolved melodic elements.

The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude

The Black Dahlia Murder is a pinnacle of consistency. There hasn’t been an album in its long career that sucked. Even though the band has remained strict in style, TBDM has never fumbled the bag. However, it had to face its biggest challenge ever after the tragic loss of Trevor Strnad (everyone in the community struggled when the news hit, let’s face it), which is why I’m approaching this review differently. More than just jokes and expectations, I’m rooting for the band to show us that, despite how irreplaceable Trevor was, they can continue honoring his memory. Oh, and it’d be great if we love Servitude too! Let’s dive in.