Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
It’s time for a break—and by that, I mean Metal isn’t always just harshness. It’s a state of mind. Dolven isn’t our usual cup of tea, but I’m kind of tired of people shouting and growling at me, so why not check out In My Grave…Silence, an album that has one of the most sorrowful clean vibes we’ve heard this year (It’s acoustic Doom!). Besides, I love that kind of medieval art. Don’t you?
Metalcatto
I’ve been a Fallujah fan ever since Nomadic, then saw it grow with The Harvest Wombs, reach perfection with The Flesh Prevails (the remastered version that we reviewed, of course!), and finally fall into decadence and collapse with Dreamless and Undying Light. However, Empyrean was a return to form, so I’m honestly stoked to listen to Xenotaph—knowing full well the risk of getting all my hopes and dreams destroyed again is very real. But hey, I’m ready for the pain.
Metalcatto
Don’t you ever feel like you want to get involved in something gross yet compelling? (And no, don’t say what your dirty mind is thinking!) Well, Lenax is a Black Metal band that, despite its underground nature, is trying to remind us of Watain’s good old days. I know that can raise passions, but I consider myself a fan, and nothing would be nicer than returning to that kind of old-school vibe. Infection has a straightforward name and proposal, so at least we’re not getting scammed this time. You’d be surprised how many times that happens with promos. Let’s go!
Stargazer Scholar
Believe it or not, I became a Rivers Of Nihil fan before Owls. Yes, yours truly is a Monarchy convert. The American Extreme Progressive Metal act started out in the atmospheric Tech-Death realm, yet the subsequent inclusion of saxophones and clean vocals made their third album, Where Owls Know My Name, blow up. And well-deserved. But my own relationship with the band began a few years prior, when I was taken aback by the sultry density of the sophomore. The musicians themselves may have gone on record lamenting the underwhelming reception of their second opus, but its importance for the band’s discovery of its own identity is hard to overlook. The Owls I have already referred to, and 2021’s The Work brought along further exploration, as the Rivers flowed into even more experimental waters. I hope you’re feeling as hyped for the 2025 self-titled album as me then, as you never really know what to expect with this talented bunch. Where to now? Was the band able to get over the departure of the lead vocalist? Will we get our sax again? Ah, so many questions.
Metalcatto
Whether we like it or not, 2025 has become the year of Blackened Death Metal. Sure, Behemoth dropped something, but we’ve also had heavyweights such as Dormant Ordeal and Decline of the I raising the bar. Now Patristic storms in with Catechesis, looking ready to join this fiercely competitive field. Dramatic cover art, unsettling religious track names, an ambitious scope, and Willowtip Records backing it—on paper, everything points to a real show‑stopper. The flip side is that my expectations shoot to a surreal level, which could set the stage for disappointment.
Metalcatto
Traditional wouldn’t be the way I’d describe our approach at MER Industries. If anything, I make sure our writers review things that sound new and fresh simply because I hate the past. However, sometimes you have to stop and see how far we’ve come in time. Enter Patchwork, a band that tries to bring a Heavy and Thrash approach from the 80s into our era with Scars. Are you ready for some nostalgic riffs? I’m not, but I can be soon! Let’s do this.
Metalcatto
We all know that Metal is a melting pot (some people in the Black Metal community live in a fantasy, though), and we’ve seen our fair share of Folk Metal. However, how many times have you seen a band mix Grindcore with Nepali culture? Never, right? Well, that’s what Chepang promises in Jhyappa—a blasting and merciless delivery with some added detail and depth. But does it work? I was fairly skeptical. Let’s be real, this combination sounded like eating a chocolate cake with nachos on it—but who knows, maybe that’s also good. Let’s go!
Elyna Khan
Discovering incredible bands is one of the perks of being a zine reviewer. You receive the promos in your email, put on your headphones, press play, and the journey begins. Little by little, in every note, every chord, every cut, you discover pieces of yourself. The blood begins to pump strongly to your heart, filling your chest with a comforting warmth and imbuing you with an intense, luminous energy that simply leaves you happy.
Metalcatto
It’s been a while since we checked out some Thrash. I must say, this year hasn’t been all that bad in that area, but Thrash comes and goes in waves, and this one hasn’t impressed all that much yet. Yes, Stargazer liked the new Warbringer, but I was just OK with it. However, Executionist is debuting with Sacrament of the Sick, and I’m always in the mood to give young bands the opportunity to surprise me—even if it rarely happens. The real question is: will this project have anything novel to add to one of the most explored styles in Metal?
Metalcatto
At MER, we mostly review music that’d make your friends call your shrink more than once — or, well, music that’s doing its best to give Stravinsky a run for his money. However, sometimes your humble servant is fed up with deciphering what the heck is going on and just wants to sit back and headbang like a peasant. Tetrarch’s The Ugly Side of Me (so edgy!) promises to keep it fun, cool, and simple for once. And I, for once, hope that’s what we get out of this Nu-Metal nostalgia trip.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 