Thrash Metal – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Megadeth – Megadeth

Metalcatto

There’s a level of tragedy to this review. Despite how much we all love to pick on Megadeth, and especially on Dave Mustaine for all his public antics and tumultuous history, he’s our weird, cantankerous uncle in the metal family. Seeing the band seemingly ready to leave the gloves on the ring is a genuinely sad moment. I’m a realist; there is absolutely no way Megadeth is ever going to top the holy trinity of Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction, or even Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? But here we are, collectively not quite ready to let the old guys ride peacefully into the sunset with their millions. So, let’s not pull any punches in discussing one of the most iconic acts in our little, utterly insignificant metal world.

Beyond The Pale – Monument In Time

Metalcatto

There are musical projects with wildly ambitious dreams—like making a sustainable living from metal—and then there are the more humble endeavors that simply exist as an excuse for friends to create music together. That latter category seems to be where Beyond the Pale firmly resides. A band that began its battle during the isolating days of the pandemic, it’s are now ready to release its debut full-length, Monument in Time, which promises a savage and unrefined fusion of Death and Thrash Metal. I’m continually surprised by how infrequently these two genres are blended effectively, as the combination makes so much inherent sense. Anyway, let’s jump into the fray.

Shadowmass -Wasteland

Metalcatto

I guess I should stop giving chances only to the big fish and actually start caring more about the tiny ones, even if that comes with fewer views and less immediate payoff. After all, we mostly don’t do this for the money, right? Anyway, Shadowmass deliver a Thrash Metal record with Wasteland that at least promises not to be completely derivative. Let’s say they don’t… waste our time (don’t hit me for the pun). There’s a clear sense of intent here! Let’s go!

Wayd – Reinvent

Metalcatto

As the year winds down and I clean our mailbox of lost hopes and dreams, I try to rescue a few things from the junk pile. Wayd is a band that has existed almost as long as yours truly. That usually means one of two things: a great history of success, or a long series of tragic events that stopped the project for years. Sometimes, of course, you get both. Anyway, I’m not entirely sure where Reinvent will fit into this story, but let’s see if the album was worth my dive into the mud. Fingers crossed.

Lost In the Riffstorm 2025: Part 3

Metalcatto

There were several old and new acts we missed this year, so it’s time to give you our two cents. You can get mad sure, or you could just think, well, “I almost forgot that came out, maybe I should check how wrong Catto is.” That’s a great way to find out I’m right. Anyway. Let’s get to it.

The Feedback Forge: The Promise Of Plague – The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath

Metalcatto

We’re back with another post where we give some harsh truths to our patrons and supporters. This time, we have an album that’s coming out in 2026, so we’re starting early with the dreadful year ahead. The Promise of Plague hits us with The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath. I must say, that’s a catchy title—there’s rhythm to it—but defining what Metal style the band plays became more enigmatic than the title itself. “This all sounds promising, Catto, why do you keep me waiting in line?” Because you didn’t bribe me to cut ahead, of course. Anyway, let’s get into it.

Arson Charge – A Dying Light

Metalcatto

Let’s return to the underground and pick up something unconventional, and by that I mean Arson Charge’s A Dying Light. Not every day do I get an album that sounds like a car crash between Thrash, Industrial, and even Nu-Metal. The real question is: are there any survivors of this massive collision? That’s what I’m here for—to take the bullets you’re too busy to take. Can this band impress us, or will it just make us scratch our heads? Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect just by looking at the artwork. Nothing wrong with it, but what does it make you feel? Maybe I don’t want to know. Let’s go!

White Mantis – Arrows At The Sun

Metalcatto

This year keeps throwing lots and lots of Thrash at us. As if the Metal Gods were offended we didn’t have a Best Of category for Thrash last year (there just weren’t enough good albums, Oxygen Destroyer won that easily). White Mantis’s Arrows At The Sun is here to join the rapidly growing competition in this niche that, despite hard times, never dies! But can the band stand out from the pack, or will we just get more 80s nostalgia that makes me want to quit? Let’s find out!

Creating Amid Conflict: Denis (Die Entweihung) on Life, Music, and Resistance

Metalcatto

This interview has taken forever to complete. Mostly because of me being busy running this tiny Metal empire, but it was worth it to return to our humble origins—before wealth and fame corrupted us. Die Entweihung has the honor of being the first band we covered in True Kvlt. The raw MeloDeath project, led by Denis Tereschenko from Belarus, who also happens to live in Israel right now and is heavily political, made me have so many questions. And yes! I know this is a brutally heated and controversial subject. I’ll do my best to not misrepresent anyone and… who am I kidding? You’ll kill each other on IG anyway. 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!