review – Page 12 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

1914 – Viribus Unitis

Metalcatto

Many bands play war Metal, but very few truly understand it. 1914 certainly does, and Viribus Unitis proves once again that it’s more than just another band referencing history. The past two records could easily be considered modern classics, which made me approach this one with a mix of excitement and apprehension. How do you follow up something that already defined your sound so powerfully? And more importantly, how does a band that has built its identity around the horror and futility of war capture a tragedy of this scale without repeating itself? Those were the questions in my mind when I first pressed play.

Skovblod – In the Valleys of Winter

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.

Monograf – Occultation

Elyna Kahn

A strange yet charming combination of sinister sounds that evoke a creepy soundtrack, with encounters between 90s depressive Rock, Candlemass-style epic Doom, and depressive ambient, with hints of Celtic folk and an atmosphere reminiscent of a sunset walk through icy Nordic forests. All this unfolds on a tapestry that conveys innocence, tenderness, and a cosy feeling of peaceful pain, a kind of catharsis where loneliness and sadness become endearing companions who understand the shadows carried by the human soul. It is precisely what the Scandinavian band Monograph brings us with its new album, Occultation.

Novembers Doom – Major Arcana

Vicky

I won’t tell you about a certain deal I made with Catto a while ago, regarding Major Arcana.

Haimad – When Night Rode Across the North

Vicky

In case you’ve been living under a gigantic stone (not even a rock) for the past three or so decades and you have no idea what’s been going on in Northern European Black Metal, here’s a not-so-gory-and-without-too-many-details close-up: there was this Norwegian band called Mayhem, that started playing Occult Metal, did all sorts of highly “interesting” things, and got a lot of media attention due to two deaths in the group – the suicide of Per Yngve Ohlin (a.k.a. Dead), and the murder of Øystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), committed by fellow bandmate Varg Vikernes (currently of Burzum). Now, with that in mind (and without too much morbid information on the topic, you’re welcome), we can go on and talk about the new Haimad material, the band’s debut album, When Night Rode Across the North. For your information, the band has been active for 25 years, however, as aforestated, this is their first full-length material.

QRIXKUOR- Womb of the World

Metalcatto

Not many bands can beat QRIXKUOR when it comes to impossible names to pronounce. Everything about this band exudes seriousness, the kind that promises music capable of taking you to new levels of despair and horror. Enter Womb of the World, an album that, judging by its cover art alone, is ready to fight for a spot in my top releases of the year. The album only has four tracks! This is either going to be amazing or crush my will to live in all the wrong ways. I’ll just warn you now: there won’t be anything easy about this tortuous journey.

Asenath Blake – Low Materialism

Metalcatto

This Halloween showed no mercy! I’m still catching up with it. However, I’d like to continue the tradition of giving projects that send me a FLAC or physical copy of their work an extra chance. Asenath Blake’s Low Materialism has an intriguing proposal, combining the myth of witches with the myth of French postmodernism. Yes, I’m a cat scientist, so you know I’ll jab at those ideas a bit. But we’re not here for intellectual posturing; we’re here to find out if this Post/Black album has something fresh to offer.

Double Mute – Corporate Culture_FINAL_v2

Metalcatto

At MER, I make a lot of office jokes — which is ironic, because I’ve never had a conventional office job. However, holding Zoom lectures was definitely a thing in my past. So, when I got Double Mute’s satirical and Avant-Garde take on this dreadful existence, I couldn’t let it pass. Corporate Culture_FINAL_v might not win “coolest title of the year,” but that’s probably part of the joke. If you’re ready for something extremely weird that’ll defy your conception of Metal, then buckle up — this meeting is about to start.

Bastard Cröss -Crossripper

Metalcatto

When a band sends me an album in either physical or FLAC format, they can be sure I’ll eventually get to their request. Even if it’s late, it’s good to judge a work the way it’s supposed to be heard — not through some cheap MP3-only stream files (big labels still do this…). So, Bastard Cröss sent the actual digital copy of their work, which is why this Black/Thrash album, Crossripper, is getting the royal treatment today. That doesn’t mean a merciful review, just saying. Let’s start.

Sad Black Goat – Back to the Mother’s Womb

Metalcatto

For years, I’ve been avoiding Depressive Black Metal. Not because it’s too dark or emotionally draining, but because the quality can often be lower than the food you find at a gas station. Still, when I was handed the deeply underground Sad Black Goat and its Freudianly titled Back to the Mother’s Womb, my curiosity got the better of me. The rest of my instincts screamed “danger,” but here we are — diving right in.