Self-release – Page 2 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

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.

Age of Ruin – Nothingman

Metalcatto

You people seem to love when we cover small acts that are either only starting their journey in this cruel world or not getting the love they deserve. So, what about Age of Ruin? It’s a good name, but is Nothingman an underground darling, or am I about to be swallowed by derivative riffs? Don’t worry, you know I like rooting for the underdog, and you can count on this cat to give bands a fair chance without the need for a juicy bribe (though honestly, that’d help in this economy!).

Voragoth – Storm Obey No Masters!

Milo Lane

Greetings, good folk — the prodigal son has returned, and he brings with him an offering worthy of reconciliation. (I swear.) It is Voragoth‘s debut Storm, Obey No Masters! This album found its way to my ears like a messenger from a long-forgotten land, and I cannot help but feel a deep pride for it. It carries more than just music — it carries the weight of folk spirit, of voices joined in comradery, of bonds forged through thousands of years of struggle and memory. Listening feels less like pressing a button that says ‘play’ and more like sitting in a circle where every voice matters, where melody itself is an entity, and a friend.

Tales of Destiny – Ashes of Destiny

Elyna Kahn

It’s a pleasure to discover the depth of some Power Metal bands, whose musical fabric is composed of several layers, textures, nuances, and endearing sonorities. Tales of Destiny is a great example of a band that makes power metal not only a familiar experience, but a significantly deep and emotional one. Born in a small town in Quebec, the band emerged when five young teenagers came together to bring a musical dream to life. Feeling the call of metal and inspired by legends such as Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, and Children of Bodom, they managed to find their own sound, full of fury, passion, and conviction.

Now I’ve Done It – An lll Guest

Metalcatto

I needed a change for a while, so I picked an album that’s going to be out in a while. When I first read about Now I’ve Done It’s promo, I was puzzled. It claimed to be a wild, strange album, but it also featured band members from Lör, one of the few Power Metal bands I can still enjoy these days. An Ill Guest was either going to be an amazing experience or suck harder than a curry with no spices (and if you felt attacked, then you probably have poor taste!). It promised to be something profound, yet the artwork looked pretty disturbing. Was this going to be a schizophrenic trip? Let’s find out!

Mind:Field – An Atonement of Existence

Metalcatto

Here I am again, helping those who are making Metal with their bare hands and gaining promo points by basically sending us a nice presentation email. It’s incredible how good manners still get you far in life, kids! Anyway, Mind:Field is a one-man Prog/Death Metal project, and that’s just as promising as it is dreadful in a way. Will An Atonement of Existence be a refreshing show of creativity, or are we going to be left with nothing but excess and regret? Kind of the way you feel after you empty that bag of fries in less than five minutes. Hopefully, this will hurt my blood pressure less. It’s time!

Return to Zion – Burdened with Glorious Purpose

Metalcatto

As you know, we get lots of promos—some by mail, some by text, some by smoke signals—but rarely can we give attention to the little band that sneaks into our DMs. That’s the case with Return to Zion, a band that came to us with nothing but a humble request. And well… here I am, getting all soft and offering Burdened with Glorious Purpose a chance. This Post-Rock/Metal release has the difficult task of standing out as an instrumental album, which is still a hit-or-miss subgenre for me. Can one of these finally match the quality of more standard releases, or are we going to be left waiting?

Chaos Magic – Of Time and Wishes

Elyna Kahn

Chaos Magic, the powerful Chilean Symphonic Metal band led by the talented vocalist Caterina Nix, celebrates ten years of music with the release of the moving EP Of Time and Wishes. This work features five of its most recognized songs: Seraphim, Beware of Silent Waters, and Garden of Winter (in acoustic versions), alongside live renditions of Furyborn and The Impossible. It is worth remembering that Chaos Magic’s self-titled debut album, released in 2015, was produced by maestro Timo Tolkki, achieving a modern, top-tier sound.

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.

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.