Post Metal – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Ashbringer -Subglacial

Metalcatto

Ashbringer is Minnesota’s answer to Deafheaven. For some time now, the band has been delivering emotional and heartbreaking Post-Metal richly layered with atmospheric touches. While Absolution continues to stand as my personal favorite (and arguably one of the best Post-Metal albums ever made!), We Came Here to Grieve was a fascinating, if decidedly weirder, successor. My expectations for this new album, Subglacial, are therefore absurdly high. The fact the band has stated it was created with minimal financial investment only fuels my excitement further! Let’s begin.

An Elegy in Riffs: Albums to Help You Heal

Metalcatto

Time flies when you’re mourning. It feels like yesterday when Pappa Catto left for Valhalla. This past year, there were albums I would turn to when the emotional mess hit me hardest. You know what I’m talking about: the deep ache of loss and the nagging sense of existential meaninglessness, paired with the paradoxical need for brutal riffs to power through the day. Here are some of those albums that helped me navigate the pain. Maybe they can help you, too.

True kvlt: Friendship Commanders, Mind Traveller, Thørles, Zac, Endtime Friendtime, Trivan

Metalcatto

It’s that time again! Let’s go!

Corridoré – Abandon

Metalcatto

In many ways, there are two types of metal bands: the ones that want to have fun and Rock n’ Roll, and the ones that want to send you on a reflective and pessimistic trip into the aches of the human condition. If you haven’t figured it out by the beautiful and bleak cover art, Corridoré belongs to the second type. But does Abandon do more than copy Falls of Rauros or Neurosis? You know I have a soft spot for sad Post-Metal, but that doesn’t mean I’m handing out good scores the way Elyna does! I’m much grumpier than that.

Ba’al – The Fine Line Between Heaven And Here

Metalcatto

It’s been a while since I reviewed a band I had absolutely no idea about going in. Ba’al didn’t arrive with a wave of hype or drama. It just had solid artwork — and sometimes, that’s all you need to get curious minds clicking. Humans are, after all, visual creatures. But you’re here to find out whether The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here is worth your time and money, or if it’s dragging us straight into sonic hell. Big questions, I know — but let’s see if we can wrangle some answers out of this beast.

Gaahls Wyrd – Branding the Stories

Metalcatto

Anyone who’s been into underground Metal long enough knows who Gaahl is. Probably the most memed man in Black Metal after Abbath. Ever since Gorgoroth made drum kits sound like someone smacking a table with their bare hands, Gaahl has changed a lot as an artist. And today, we’re taking a look at Gaahls Wyrd‘s Branding the Stories. Honestly, I have no idea what to expect, because this project has yet to impress me—but here I am, reviewing it after all the other writers said, “Oh look at the time, I need my beauty sleep.”

Austere – The Stillness of Dissolution

Metalcatto

I was there when Austere released To Lay Like Old Ashes. It was my first experience with Atmospheric Black Metal. And though it wasn’t a perfect album, I recall it to this day. Long after, I’m here, ready to review The Stillness of Dissolution, ready to appreciate how much the band—and I—have changed in these almost twenty years. Austere has already taken radical steps in its style, but will this continue, or will we see a return to its origins? Stay put for your favorite flavor of depression.

KLPS – KLPS

This our first double review. So, just jump in!

Am I in Trouble? – Spectrum

Two thoughts crossed my mind when I got the promo for Am I in Trouble? – Spectrum. First: “Oh wow! There’s so much color here that there’s no way this is just a Black Metal album”. Second: “That’s one of the weirdest band names I’ve ever heard”. For an extreme Metal band, the name feels a bit… problematic (ooof, I know I’m getting punched for that one). And I’ve received promos with band names I can’t even post here! But I was intrigued, because I love albums that subvert expectations, and at least in its presentation, Spectrum was doing just that. But was it more than just a striking look? Let’s find out.

Metalcatto’s top artworks of 2024

Lunart & Metalcatto

It’s time for yours truly to give you a proper top list of something! Since you’ve been asking for one a zillion times on social media, I couldn’t say no. However, being a fervent supporter of the division of labor and a total snob, I’ve teamed up with Lunart—someone with an actual arts degree—to judge the best album art of the year. So, this isn’t just my peasant opinion; it’s also supported by the refined taste of someone who knows the field. That means you’ve got to bend the knee, right?

Before you lose it, yes, we’re aware many of the best works this year are adaptations of classical paintings. But let’s be real—that doesn’t take away from the incredible worlds they transport us to, especially when combined with the music. Let’s dive in!