Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
You know I have a soft spot for anything that mixes Prog and Death in the same sentence. What can I say? I like my bands to starve. So when Mors Verum came to me like a fart in the wind, I knew I had to smell it properly. Enough disgusting and childish jokes, though; what we really want to know is whether Canvas is worth your money, or at least your almost non-existent attention. Let’s get this horror started.
Metalcatto
Time to recognize those albums crawling out of the sewers of the underground. The ones that struggle to even get 30 seconds of your attention, but promise a deep reward if you stick around. So here they are, in no particular order, the revelations of 2025.
Metalcatto
Sometimes, as a reviewer, you find yourself in strange places, where you don’t know if your instincts are right and you’ve found gold, or if the band actually has no hype because your taste sucks. This is how I felt when I heard Skovblod’s In the Valleys of Winter. The band has next to no social media presence yet, but once I listened to the first seconds of this album, I knew I couldn’t let it slide. It hasn’t been the strongest year for Folk Metal, so I’m open to anything that could redeem so many mid experiences. So, should you care about this little Danish project? Let’s see.
Metalcatto
I’m more excited than a monkey with a rifle! It’s Between The Buried And Me, the band that got me into Prog Death back when I didn’t even have my own computer. I’ve been a fan since Alaska and was blown away by the timeless 5/5 classic Colors. The band has been delivering amazing and consistently interesting music ever since. Weird and quirky for sure, but always risky. If The Blue Nowhere is anything like its previous works, surprises are the only guarantee. Enough build-up, time to shred our way out of existence!
Metalcatto
Saying that I was excited about In Mourning’s The Immortal would be an understatement. I’m old school; I’ve been a fan since Monolith and Shrouded Divine. Everything after that has been the highest level of MeloProg consistency ever seen in that niche. If anything, the band could easily top a list of the most underrated acts in Metal. However, with every great release, the risk of the next one being a flop increases. The Bleeding Veil was outstanding, but can the band keep up with this ridiculous run? Let’s find out!
Metalcatto
I was there when An Abstract Illusion released Illuminate the Path and blew me away. Little did I know the band could reach even greater heights with Woe. Ever since Opeth traded Progressive Death Metal for Dadcore, Sweden hasn’t had a band to carry that torch. Meanwhile, scenes in Australia, Norway, and Germany have been thriving, building names of their own. But it was about time someone from the land of meatballs and cinnamon buns responded with authority. The Sleeping City could be that answer. The catch? The band is stepping into an almost impossible challenge. I mean, Woe was the Prog album of 2022, right? Let’s go.
Metalcatto
Sometimes a project crawls out of the pit and dares to challenge us—the filthy snobs who sit around eating chips while we laugh and judge the hard work of real artists. The Biscuit Merchant might have the least intimidating name in Metal (are you a scout selling cookies?), but this Prog/Death Metal project comes swinging with all sorts of quirky moves. Also, the creator of Tempora came recommended by a friend (Am I in Trouble?), and remember: connections are more important than talent or hard work. Sorry, kids! So let’s get into it.
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.
Metalcatto
Lately, I’ve felt in control of the mess release dates can become. However, great albums from the underground still escape my grasp here and there. In an attempt to do justice to bands that we were either too late or too busy to explore deeply, we’re back with this section where we try to make this unjust world a little fairer in our own low-budget way. Let’s check out this unique bunch, ok?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 