Willowtip Records – Metal Eclipse Reviews

An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City

Metalcatto

I was there when An Abstract Illusion released Illuminate the Path and blew me away. Little did I know the band could reach even greater heights with Woe. Ever since Opeth traded Progressive Death Metal for Dadcore, Sweden hasn’t had a band to carry that torch. Meanwhile, scenes in Australia, Norway, and Germany have been thriving, building names of their own. But it was about time someone from the land of meatballs and cinnamon buns responded with authority. The Sleeping City could be that answer. The catch? The band is stepping into an almost impossible challenge. I mean, Woe was the Prog album of 2022, right? Let’s go.

Putridity – Morbid Ataraxia

Metalcatto

Look at that cover art! Doesn’t it give you a Freudian whiplash? Or remind you of better times? (Before you were born! Those were the days.) Putridity is a Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore band, but you probably figured that out from the album’s colorful title: Morbid Ataraxia. You know this stuff is heavy when you have to check the dictionary to understand just how vile and repulsive the title is. But was it any good? Let’s find out.

Patristic – Catechesis

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.

Dormant Ordeal – Tooth and Natil

Metalcatto

It’s been a while since we reviewed something darker than your credit score. Dormant Ordeal has already been flirting with glory before. The band isn’t just some other pointless, bashingly heavy act. If anything, it reminds what Behemoth would sound like if it truly embraced Black Metal and stopped the edginess. Hence, Tooth and Nail comes with the difficult task of putting the band where it should be, the top of the Metalsphere. Let’s see if the music fits the art quality.

Dissocia – To Lift The Veil

Vicky

I’m just curious—does anyone remember Cancer? No, not the gut-wrenching illness, but the far less awful (and actually pleasant) band. I’m counting on the fact that you probably do… and I’m also counting on you at least politely nodding while reading this article before searching Encyclopaedia Metallum to find out what the deal with Cancer is. Now that you’ve returned, I can mention why I brought up those Death Metal titans: the group’s drummer, Gabriel Valcázar, is a member of Dissocia. Of course, he isn’t the only one. Dissocia also features vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and synthesist Daniel R. Flys, known for his work with Persefone, Eternal Storm, and others. On the epilogue, “Out of Slumber”, you may even hear the skilled violinist Paul R. Flys.

Dessiderium – Keys to the Palace

Vicky

I have to mention that I’ve listened to this album about twenty times in the past week or so, which means that I’ve had time to view it from various different angles. The first thing you may notice is the album cover, which resembles something you might see in The Lord of the Rings. However, you probably understand from the beginning that we are talking about something that Frodo Baggins probably wouldn’t listen to on his way to Mordor.

Carnosus – Wormtales

Carnosus has both the blessing and the curse of having dropped one of the best albums (and probably the best Tech Death album) of 2023: Visions of Infinihility. It took the underground by storm, and before we could even recover, the band is back with Wormtales. Many of us were nervous that it was too soon for Carnosus to hit us with more of its unique approach to Tech Death. But if there was one band capable of pulling off this feat, it was Carnosus. So, let’s dive in!

Gigan – Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus

Stop the social media machine for a second because we have an OG here! Yes, this has been the year when Disso-Death and Disso-Black have taken over Metal for good, but if there’s one band that was already melting flesh in this style before it was cool, it’s Gigan! The Order of the False Eye remains, to me, a classic that anyone in love with this inhumane style should have in their collection. Honestly, Gigan has always delivered quality, so my expectations for Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus are gigantic (pun intended!). Let’s dive in!

Pyrrhon – Exhaust

Well, this came out of nowhere—promo included! Not many bands can match Pyrrhon‘s ability to obliterate what little sanity the listener has left. The Mother of Virtues and What Passes for Survival are absolute classics, perfect soundtracks for puking while looking up (don’t try it at home, you’ll drown). However, Abscess Time left me a bit cold. I didn’t quite get it, which is why I approached Exhaust with caution. You can never be too safe with a band this volatile. In that sense, Pyrrhon had already succeeded in manipulating my expectations. But enough intro—let’s dive into the madness.

Ingurgitating Oblivion- Ontology of Nought

I was there when Ingurgitating Oblivion released Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light. It was album-of-the-year material in what was probably the best year Metal has had in my lifetime. This won’t be a typical review. You see, Ontological Nought isn’t music you listen to for dealing with emotional issues. This is art, and to fully embrace it, I’m pulling out every weapon in my snobbish arsenal. So I hope you’re ready for the most pretentious review since we covered Ulcerate or Aquilus. On y va!