review – Page 11 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Ursawrath – Emergence

Metalcatto

Ursawrath has the kind of name that reminds me of the good old days of the Soviet Union (you know, during the Great Purge and so on). That’s obviously not meant as praise, but it certainly grabbed my attention. Emergence seemed promising to me. It’s been a good year for Thrash—especially for young, hungry bands proving that the most politically subversive of all Metal subgenres is alive and well. Now the real question is whether Ursawrath can break the cycle and offer something truly its own, or if I’m just staring down the barrel of another nostalgia trip I never signed up for. Stay with me and find out.

LOMMI- 667788

Metalcatto

There’s something you need to know about me as a proud Stockholmer: I can’t miss a chance to make fun of Gothenburg. So you can imagine my disappointment when I got LOMMI‘s 667788 (or as I like to call it, grandpa’s password) and not a single member was named Glenn or Jimmy. You’d have to be deep in the culture to get that joke. Still, I promised myself I’d put my prejudice aside and give this Heavy/Groove Metal outfit a fair shot. Will I be biased because of city rivalries? Absolutely. But I’ll try to behave.

Connect The Circle – Wolf in the Sky

Metalcatto

If you’ve been following us for a bit, you might think I’m just a Death/Black type of Metalhead. However, my beginnings in the Metalsphere are closer to Prog than anything else—and I mean the joyful type, 90s Prog! Which is why Connect the Circle caught my attention right away. Wolf in the Sky not only promised to be conceptual (it’s about a volcanic eruption!), but also to deliver that lost sound with a fresher touch. Am I being nostalgic for once? Maybe, but it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want!

Kayo Dot – Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason

Metalcatto

It’s been a long time since I felt genuinely excited about a promo. Kayo Dot needs no introduction. Ever since the release of the landmark Choirs of the Eye, the band has made a career out of defying what Metal—and music itself—can be. Even when its ideas go over most of our heads, the promise of uncertainty has always been part of its DNA. Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason continues that legacy. As always, we have no idea where the band is heading next, and for better or worse, my expectations were sky-high. What could possibly go wrong when you’re biased toward weird music, right?

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.

Shadows – Miseria

Metalcatto

I might’ve said it before, but this year seems to be a big one for Blackened Death Metal, and Shadows wants in on the trend with Miseria. At first glance, the album gives the impression that it’s more than ready to do the job—punching a hole through your emotions and unleashing the evil beast that lurks inside your heart. Does that make any sense? No clue. But what I do know is what this album offers, and I’m about to tell you.

Steegmoord – Mandatory

Metalcatto

At MER, we don’t have a policy against instrumental Metal—in fact, most of us would probably agree that it wasn’t the vocals that first made us fall in love with this weird genre. Steegmoord is an instrumental project that avoids both the shred-heavy and Djent-obsessed ends of the spectrum, and for me, that alone warrants a bit of attention. Sure, the artwork for Mandatory might look suspiciously similar to that of Redemptor, but if this album is even half as good as Arthaneum, I’d consider myself briefly satisfied with life.

Heretoir – Solastalgia

Metalcatto

It’s hard to get people’s attention in this era of pathetic short attention spans. It’s even harder to stand out as a German Post/Black Metal band, since so many of them already offer outstanding quality music. But Heretoir has a nerdy trick up its sleeve. It’s not every day I get an album with a freaking Phorusrhacos on the cover—especially one that looks so sombre (like they weren’t terrifying enough already). Now, I’m sure Solastalgia is going to offer uplifting and hopeful tunes, right? One can dream… or just show despair. Both are valid in the Metalsphere.

Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura

Metalcatto

Azure Emote’s Cryptic Aura is what happens when you combine Monstrosity with Eluveitie and Sirenia. If that sounds bizarre to you, you’re not alone. I wasn’t sure what to expect from such an eclectic group of musicians. To be honest, I had little time to overthink it—just got back from vacation, still in a food coma—but I figured this was a worthy shot to give a band some exposure. Whether that turns out good or bad remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: it’ll be honest. Even money can’t change our strong opinions at MER!

Proscription – Desolate Divine

Metalcatto

Alright, I’ll tell you something superficial — and I’m not proud of it, but it’s the truth. I had several earlier promos to check out, but I saw Proscription‘s Desolate Divine and its absolutely astonishing cover art and said, “Screw merits and fairness, this thing looks evil!” That kind of aesthetic confidence is hard to resist. Still, you always have to be cautious with artwork that looks too convincing, especially when it comes to Blackened Death Metal. You risk overindulging and ending up sick the whole trip home (which I’m actively trying to avoid during this vacation).