review – Page 18 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Pilgrimage – From Amber To Sun

Vicky

I had only briefly heard of Pilgrimage in my Doom/Goth/Death Metal groups of friends when some of them said that this band was very promising. I’ve listened to its debut album – Sigil of the Pilgrim Sun – in the Pandemic era, but I have to admit that, to my embarrassment, I completely forgot about it. I have to thank the manager of Metal Eclipse Reviews, our fellow cat lover and Metal enthusiast, Catto, for reminding me that Pilgrimage is about to release a new album, From Amber To Sun. And it’s a very good one.

SULT -SULT

Ixone

This was supposed to be easy… seems I was wrong once again. Typically, the “misanthropic Black Metal” genre tag is enough to guarantee an album a fairly high rating, at least on my behalf. So, when I dived into this album and I was right off the bat not very impressed by it, I felt the urge to slap myself in every fiber of my being. That being said, despite my initial reaction, SULT’s self titled debut ended up being a fairly pleasant listen. However, make sure you listen to it on a decent sound system and with a high volume, otherwise you’re doing yourself a huge disservice, and will end up feeling like you’ve wasted the last hour of your life.

Perishing- Malicious Acropolis Unveiled

Metalcatto

When you think of Funeral Doom, Costa Rica might not be the first place that comes to mind. The weather is warm, the scenery is beautiful, and people are often associated with an easygoing, happy way of life. Yet even in paradise, shadows can grow long, and Perishing proves it with its debut Malicious Acropolis Unveiled. This is not a casual dip into melancholy—it’s a grim, oppressive, and deliberately heavy work that aims to pull the listener deep into a world where hope is an illusion. The name alone feels like an ominous gateway, and maybe the music behind it delivers on that promise.

Visions of Atlantis / Armada – Live Over Europe

Elyna Kahn

Visions of Atlantis has been waving the symphonic metal flag for years now, and this time they decided to prove it live. Armada – Live Over Europe is their latest statement, a 19-track beast stitched together from various stops of their 2024 Armada European tour. It’s mostly material from their last two studio raids, Pirates (2022) and Pirates II (2024), released July 14th on vinyl and CD, because apparently these pirates still believe in treasure you can actually hold.

Unleashed – Fire Upon Your Lands

Metalcatto

Unleashed is an institution in Swedish Death Metal. The band was there at the dawn of time, back when everyone played with the same rancid distortion pedal and accidentally created a music subgenre. Fire Upon Your Lands is supposed to be a health check for a band that still feels fresh despite its years. I know — a Swedish band singing about Viking stuff already feels like raining over the ocean, but when you have such a classic act, things can go either really well or make you regret being a Metalhead. Let’s see which one we end up with here, ok? Wish me luck.

Blackbraid – Blackbraid III

Metalcatto

Our favorite Black/Folk act that’s not really that Folk is here! Most of us were there when Blackbraid took the Metal world by storm with a short, effective album that captured our imagination. It was Black/Folk that didn’t bastardize its own roots — no gimmicks, just music as a tool to tell a story. Then Blackbraid II hit us, showing the full potential of a project that kept people debating the real cultural background of its creator. Personally, I have little interest in judging people’s identities; as long as they treat the matter with respect, I have no problem. So, can Blackbraid III surprise us?

An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City

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.

Adur – We Fail to Love Ourselves

Metalcatto

Adur is walking a thin line for me. No, it hasn’t done anything wrong, and it hasn’t made awful music either. But it’s offering Post-Metal that deeply resembles Amenra and Cult of Luna—two bands I absolutely worship—which means We Fail to Love Ourselves has a tough battle ahead if it’s going to impress me. It’s not a competition, but comparisons are inevitable. And honestly, there aren’t many things I want more than a Post-Metal band that hits me hard in the feels instead of just giving me lounge Rock disguised as “atmospheric.” Let’s dive in.

Trudger – Void Quest

Metalcatto

Sometimes you miss the decadence of urban life—the filth that makes you feel alienated, and yet, it’s the only home you know. Why am I starting this so seriously? Where are all the jokes? You see, when Trudger came to us with Void Quest, I quickly realized this band shares members with Dvne (one of my top Prog albums of 2024). The promise was that this would be even darker and heavier, so obviously, I’m more excited than a drunkard in a liquor store (stop it! Get some help!). So let’s go!

Releases that almost fell through the cracks: Jonhatan Tenerini, Sylvie Fisichella, & Acid Age

Metalcatto

Hi there! It’s about time we check what we’ve missed this year. We get thousands of promos, and some good stuff is bound to end up in the junk folder—or worse, just buried under all the PR. Anyway, I wanted to focus on the peculiar Prog music that hasn’t had as much attention as it should so far. Notice I’m just using the term “Prog” generally instead of “people who play wacky music that will demand a music degree from you.” But let’s stop wasting time and begin!