Suffering so you don't have to!
Vicky
Since I’m the youngest member here, it seemed fit to try and include as many genres as humanly possible. Also, this is like the third variant of my incredible list, so please be patient. Just remember, the correct question is never “oh, what did Vicky include in her list?”, it’s “what didn’t she include?”… Here it goes, the long overdue list, featuring dramas, friends, and spoilers:
Metalcatto
It’s almost time for Halloween, and I think we’re all trying to find a decent release that fits the mood. I got a random promo from Pedestal for Leviathan for Enter: Vampyric Manifestation, and while these promos don’t usually get much attention, the band sent me a FLAC file—and that always merits respect. Enter: Vampyric Manifestation is what happens when Dying Fetus and Dimmu Borgir have a child together (so, I guess in this case the fetus made it through—yay!). I know it sounds disgusting, but I’m here to tell you to hold on and keep reading.
Vicky
Arguably my favorite part of writing about Metal bands is discovering hidden gems in the scene. Bands, labels, albums, songs, musicians, demos, EPs—anything for that matter. Coming across new acts in this vast musical territory is always a thrill (at least for me, that is). After taking a short break from exploring new albums to rediscover some of my all-time favorite tracks, I’m back today with a Symphonic/Power/Gothic Metal mini-album that deserves attention: Broken Mind by Meteora. I first heard about these Hungarian Metal masters last year (yes, I mean 2024—for those reading this in 3075, please save me a seat in the flying machine!), when they played at one of my favorite festivals, Symphonic Metal Echoes in Alba Iulia, Transylvania, Romania.
Vicky
Your favorite teenager underground Dark Metal (Symphonic, Doom, Gothic, Black, Death Metal – to name a few) specialist is back with an answer to a question most of us have probably got. Or, at least, to a question I’ve been getting since I first mentioned my musical styles of choice: is it really worth going to a Symphonic Metal show? To be brief, yes. Why? Find out in the next few lines.
Vicky
If you’re reading this, it means you’re probably either very curious to find out who Cradle of Filth are, or you’re here to eventually correct me, stating things such as: “you are not trve enough.” Before we dig into the (sort of traumatizing) history of the Cradle, I think it would be alright for me to let you know how I, your laid-back Symphonic Metal fan, first started listening to them. It was a warm summer day, in 2025… No, let’s take it from scratch.
Metalcatto
It’s been a while since we’ve been to space! It was so hot last year, while now it seems to have cooled down (that’s a fact!). However, Eminentia Tenebris bring us something peculiar in Whispers of the Undying. It’s a space opera! And who doesn’t like those? Especially when they come in the form of Symphonic/Black Metal that has the rawness and drama that Dimmu Borgir has been lacking for the last twenty years. Also, is it possible that for once Antiq didn’t send us something recorded with a potato? Let’s find out!
Vicky
If you are confused about the title, it is perfectly fine—I was too. A quick search for Pythia on Encyclopaedia Metallum revealed that Unhallowed is the band’s fifth album. However, it has decided to divide it into two (or perhaps more, it’s confusing!) parts. Before I share more about the album, I would like to clarify the actual definition of “unhallowed”: it means “unholy, not formally consecrated, wicked.”Now that you’ve been educated, let’s start!
Milo Lane
You might say you’re not a fan of Epica, and I’ve been guilty of making similar statements over the years. But, as I avoid eggs coming at my face for declaring such a thing publicly, I must accentuate my lack of bias—or expectation—upon hearing its newest release, Aspiral, and… I hope you’ll keep your groceries stored for better use. Having done my homework, I repent—and announce some serious drooling in the following text.
Vicky
If you do some research to find out which Symphonic Metal bands come from Romania, you’ll come across groups such as Interitus Dei, Nocturnal Eternity, Whispering Woods, Symphress, Dark Æclipse, Magica, Adastia, and Aeon Sun. I recommend searching for these bands on your preferred streaming platform and giving their music a listen—they’re truly worth it.
Sometimes in metal, as in life, appearances are deceiving. For example, I’m an invisible Metalhead – you’d never guess I belong to this illustrious community. So when Tribunal‘s Penitence and Ruin promo arrived from 20 Buck Spin, I assumed we had another reliable but predictable old-school Death Metal album on our hands. You know, the typical 3.0/5.0 or maybe slightly better. Oh, but I was surprised to find out this isn’t just a Doom Metal band – it’s a Symphonic Doom Metal band (I can already imagine some of you salivating over that). So, let’s see if this formula works.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 