Reigning Phoenix Music – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Lordi – Limited Deadition

Any of you who have been following the blog for the last year know two things: a) I hate nostalgia, and b) I believe the 80s are overrated in every artistic aspect. This is why Lordi’s Limited Deadition had such a hard task convincing me to even give it a chance. Besides, this is the only Metal band that won Eurovision decades ago, so with a mix of admiration and repulsion, I recalled that the point of being a reviewer is to explore horrors we never thought we’d encounter—to leave the comfort of my sauna and see what we’re up against next.

Brainstorm – Plague Of Rats

Elyna Kahn

BRAINSTORM, a name that evokes power and creativity, is a German metal band with over two decades of experience. Soon, it’ll release Plague of Rats. This album is being hailed as a career milestone, revisiting the band’s fascination with Indu culture, a theme it first explored in 2003’s release, Soul Temptation. With high expectations, I dove into the album, listening to it multiple times to fully absorb its energy. The first thing that struck me was the “Live-in-Studio” sound, which gives the record an electrifying, concert-like atmosphere. Each of the 11 tracks bursts with energy, making it feel as though you’re standing in front of the stage, surrounded by flames and a roaring crowd.

Opeth – The Last Will and Testament

It’s been tough to write this one. You see, Opeth holds the closest sentimental spot in my heart. I loved everything from Orchid to Watershed with passion. I studied the tracks, played them, and then Opeth changed completely. Although I still enjoyed some albums from the Prog Rock era, they weren’t as ambitious or interesting—nothing the ’70s hadn’t already given us (get mad!). Now, The Last Will and Testament comes with big promises. We all heard that the growls were back, but I couldn’t care less—I wanted the songwriting to return. So, I wasn’t too hopeful after the single; I didn’t want to believe the hype! But let’s see if this is a true return to form or just overhyped by every reviewer site out there.

Wolfheart – Draconian Darkness

It’s time to come clean. I’m a Saukkonen superfan. I think he’s Finland’s response to Dan Swanö, so you can imagine my level of respect for the man. Ever since I heard Deathstar Rising, I’ve enjoyed each one of his projects. However, I won’t lie, it’s been a while since Wolfheart blew me away (like making me so excited that I’d forget to take my meds). Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed almost everything this project has shown us, but I’ve been longing for some change. There’s so much more this formula has to offer. Can Draconian Darkness be the renewal the band needs?

OCTOPLOID – Beyond The Aeons

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and that Finland will deliver interesting Metal every year. Here we have another debut: Beyond The Aeons. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking these are amateurs. OCTOPLOID is formed by members of Amorphis, Barren Earth, Swallow the Sun, and many more! This is the closest we’re going to get this year to a Finnish extreme Metal super band. However, I’ll stay sissu and show no apparent emotion until we listen to this carefully. Does it hold up to such high standards?