Released by: Frontiers Records
Release Date: September 1st, 2023
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
Links: https://www.eclipsemania.com/
Line Up:
Erik Mårtensson – Vocals
Magnus Henriksson – Guitars
Philip Crusner – Drums
Victor Crusner – Bass
Tracklist:
1. The Hardest Part Is Losing You
2. Got It!
3. Anthem
4. Children of the Night
5. Hearts Collide
6. I Don’t Get It
7. The Broken
8. So Long, Farewell, Goodbye
9. High Road
10. One Step Closer to You
11. Forgiven
Melodic Rockers rejoice. We have a new Eclipse album in hand. Has it been a decade since they started churning out consistent Melodic Hard Rock for the masses? Looks like it. The crew led by Erik Mårtensson and Magnus Henriksson has kept dishing out the enticing choruses, hooks, and melodies for a while now. You can add them to the list with Sweden’s H.E.A.T as one of the most enjoyable Melodic groups around.
The last one “Wired’ was a solid record, but I did feel at times it felt like the wash, rinse, repeat button was punched a bit too much. Not that the music was bad or anything, still a good album, just too many similar tunes for my liking. You have to try to break away from the norm sometimes when it comes to this genre, or else it can become stale.
Now up to their 10th studio album, “Megalomanium” keep moving the goal post over with some of the same melodic, anthemic hooks that they always provide. I know that is part of the formula, and it works pretty well at the beginning of the album.
Such bombastic cuts like “The Hardest Part Is Losing You” comes as a top bill number, with plenty of hooks and high-rising lines, and Erik and company always know how to provide a catchy tune. Like the lyrics here with Erik’s aggressive tuning being a highlight. Another banger comes in “Got It!”, a perfect give-and-go chorus, and the Foo Fighthers-esque riff is leave an indelible mark. And yes “Anthem” is a cool tune, something different with a power ballad-esque chorus, perfectly placed in the order of things. For some reason, this song brings Gary Moore flashes. The mid section of the album is a bit too tamed for my likings, still some solid songs but it doesn’t stand out as much to me.
The closer “Forgiven” has all the traits that you come to expect from a well-rounded Eclipse song, good lyrics, high-rising choruses, nice chunky guitars and drums, and just plenty of momentum. Good time to end the record with a song that brings it all back and has plenty of juice.
Look if you have dug all their stuff in the past (Bleed & Scream being my favorite), you won’t find much here not to like. Yes, it gets a bit too repetitive in a couple of spots, but overall is a good album. You can hear all the different influences in the sound, from a little punk Green Day style to Pretty Maids, etc. There is plenty here to like. Not throwing this in the stale category because the substance of the band nowadays has been proven. The niche market it has it is such, Melodic Hard Rock, and as long as that formula doesn’t stray too far away from its root, you will have very enjoyable music.
Written by: Shadow Editor
Ratings: 8/10
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