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Eclipse: Monumentum

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 08.03.2017

Since their last album, 2015's Armageddonize, Sweden's Eclipse have become world travelers, touring beyond their home base from Europe to Australia. The most recent and last stop was the Rock N Skull Festival in the United States in October. Now the foursome returns with their third long player, Monumentum.

Eclipse

To say that this album is more of the same from Eclipse is not to be belittling or redundant. The simple fact is that Eclipse is very good at what they do, creating well-crafted melodic hard rock with a heavy metal edge, and then neatly packaged in an AOR wrapper. The essential elements of melody, harmony, and groove are abundant and convincing throughout this album. Following these things, there are clean and strong lead vocals wrapped in harmonious background vocal arrangements from the supporting players. Then comes the power of twin guitar riffs in harmony and a bevy of breathtaking guitar solos. And the songs rock with strong and steady, pump your fist and bang your head groove. All this is merely the Eclipse musical formula, a formula for success.

Hitting some song highlights, the album pretty much kicks melodic hard and heavy rock ass straight from gate. Vertigo, Never Look Back, Born To Lead, Night Comes Crawling are powerful rockers that show Eclipse's knack for blending those aforementioned elements like musical alchemists. Yet for pure heaviness and groove, the signature song may be Black Rain, quintessential melodic metal with a hard rock groove. But there are some songs, so to speak, that are a bit dialed back. Killing Me doesn't quite have the heaviness as others, yet still rocks and pushes the AOR vibe. Hurt, an anthem-like ballad, turns largely on the vocal arrangement, groove, and strong refrain.

Simply put, from a band who have mastered their trade, Eclipse's Monumentum is another fine album of entertaining melodic hard rock with a sharp metal edge in AOR wrapper. Easily recommended.

Eclipse - Never Look Back

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From a band who have mastered their trade, Eclipse's Monumentum is another fine album of entertaining melodic hard rock with a sharp metal edge in AOR wrapper. Easily recommended.

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By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]