USA – Metal Eclipse Reviews

An Introduction to Black Metal

Metalcatto

I felt like doing something different. Something that wasn’t judging the work of young, hungry bands that have next to no hope of making it to your playlist, even less to your wallet. Some of you have told me, “I can’t get into Black Metal”—whether it’s the edginess, the awful production, or the shrieking. Well, here are a few albums that could ease your journey into that dark and cold world. Just remember: this isn’t a historical trip. It’s one about digestible listens. See yourself as a frog in a pot, and I’m slowly raising the heat. The idea is that you don’t notice how cooked you are.

Ethereal Rot -Ethereal Rot

Thechopstickdrummer

A TECHNICAL DEATH METAL BAND FROM MAINE! I REPEAT, A TECHNICAL DEATH METAL BAND FROM MAINE! How merry can I be! If each of the 50 states contested to see which was most lucrative for extreme Metal music, Vacationland would run sobbing to the nearest blueberry field as California, Florida, and New York fill the podium, all hosting greatly influential Metal movements. To demonstrate the unexpectedly bloodthirsty nature of New England’s northernmost region comes Ethereal Rot, a dissonant Death Metal collective from Portland. Ethereal Rot is releasing their debut full-length record next month, presenting a refined group shaped by on-the-road seacoast slaughterfests and combinations of the bandmates’ past stylings–almost every member hails from former projects spanning power Metal to Metalcore. This debut marks an exploratory thematic shift for the group, demonstrating that Ethereal Rot can withstand the harsh climates of both their state and their industry.

Arise From Worms – A Bleeding Tree Hanging Self Destruction

thechopstickdrummer

A Bleeding Tree Hanging Self Destruction is a long, almost nonsensical name for an album, but Arise From Worms is a trio built on extravagant displays. Their supergroup foundation is not one to be messed with under any circumstances: Sonny Lombardozzi of Fleshtized tackles guitars and bass, Steve Tucker of Tampa’s own Morbid Angel handles vocals, Derek Sherinian tickles the electronic ivories, and Cryptopsy’s Flo Mournier mounts the drum kit. This trio founded Arise From Worms in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but only recently have they set their malicious technical sights on a full-length endeavor. And what an endeavor it was…

Saidan – FANGDRILLER: Scars Beneath Memory’s Wrist

Metalcatto

In our never-ending quest for originality, shocking things become more and more difficult to find. So imagine my surprise when Saidan proposed to mix Black Metal with Visual Kei. That’s just so wild it could work. FANGDRILLER: Scars Beneath Memory’s Wrist is supposed to come as a Gothic and charming tale—something harsh, but somehow comforting. Can the album strike a balance between these two worlds, or will it all become unbearably sentimental? Hopes are high.

Double Mute – Corporate Culture CEO Edition

Metalcatto

Let’s face it: in our current social and political climate, satire has lost its purpose. Reality is just funnier than anything else. Double Mute has done two things: brought us one of the strangest concepts for a band and shown one of the most heinous cover arts in MER history. Anyway, if Corporate Culture CEO Edition delivers what it promises, I might once and for all punch that intern who keeps messing up the printer at work.

Khemmis – Khemmis

Metalcatto

At this point, you know I like Doom, but I’m not Pegah, so my level of fanaticism is relatively sober. However, if there’s one Doom band that makes me feel like a cat on catnip, it’s Khemmis. Sure, the band still has yet to surpass its first two albums, but everything afterward has been nothing but quality. That’s why you’d expect Khemmis to be a display of the band’s experience and maturity, right? You know, these guys know the game. Or so I hope.

Temple ov Ahriman – Heretics of Consensual Reality

Metalcatto

In our not-so-long career, we have reviewed bands with all sorts of quirky names. Temple ov Ahriman isn’t that weird, but who the heck names an album Heretics of Consensual Reality? I’m old school. I read Durkheim. Reality is what opposes the individual will. This title makes no sense! Anyway, you’re here for the Metal, not for the snobbery. So let’s see if this is more than just average Black Metal.

Elder – Through Zero

Metalcatto

Elder is one of the best acts out there. Doubts are next to none. Ever since Reflections of a Floating World, the band has released Album of the Year contender after another. So my real question was: will Through Zero reach those heights, or sink into absolute misery and disappointment? For once, my expectations landed somewhere in the middle of the scale. Ready to be happy or bored, but not furious. Snob note: how do you go through zero? It’s literally the absence of anything. But maybe these guys are in the “zero is a number” camp. Let’s see.

Coffin Hunters – Cosmic Dawn

Metalcatto

We don’t cover nearly enough Prog/retro-Rock here. That’s almost an intentional decision, because historically, I feel retro-Rock has become the equivalent of Oscar-bait but for Metal reviewers—albums that are enjoyable but have no effect on the genre’s zeitgeist, yet still receive mountains of praise. Anyway, Coffin Hunters hopefully delivers something that’s interesting, nostalgic, and also creative. Cosmic Dawn‘s artwork tells you exactly what this is about, so let’s get into it right away.

Sallow Moth – Hydrophilous Brood

Metalcatto

I was under the assumption that Sallow Moth was a Prog-Death band, so when I dove into Hydrophilous Brood, I paid no attention to that album title. That clearly says this thing eats children for breakfast and puppies for lunch. However, it wasn’t exactly easy to categorize. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to try today. I’ll say one thing: you can feel the ambition this band has even before you click play. But enough talking. Let’s start.