Catamenia - VIII: The Time Unchained

The former trademarks (clever usage of keyboards, decent vocals thanks to Olli-Jukka Mustonen, perfect drumming courtesy of Veikko Jumisko) are gone and all that's left is pure mediocrity. Catamenia are slower and mellower now - and cringier. Just listen to that annoying hidden track if you don't believe. It's a shame that three (!) vocalists contributed on this album but all of them failed epically. Only one single track ("Embody And Behold") reminded me of the bands' far better releases of the past.

R.I.P. Catamenia - we shared some good years but now it's about time to leave the stage.
(and no, I will most probably not check out your subsequent albums, you already had your chance)

One of the most underrated metal albums ever! They seamlessly blend black & stoner metal. Alive cold dead, the title track and Fallen are all ridiculously good. Not into the covers, but the rest of the album is flawless.

Written by kaskadian on 03.02.2019 at 08:45

One of the most underrated metal albums ever! They seamlessly blend black & stoner metal. Alive cold dead, the title track and Fallen are all ridiculously good. Not into the covers, but the rest of the album is flawless.

I second that. Even 6.9/10 is still quite overrated.

Wah.. Wa... Wait, you said WHAT? UNDERrated?
A seamless blend of black and stoner metal?

Maybe they were stoned recording this, but the problem is they didn't want to blend in any stoner metal at all. Here and there, it sounds very odd and awful because they terribly failed to keep their standards - not, because they tried to bring in some stoner metal or whatsoever. Basically, they just fucked it up beyond all repair.
This album marks the end of Catamenia as I knew it. They almost split up right after recording this and meanwhile, all but one founding member have departed. With them leaving, all the former skills of the band are gone.

Written by Starvynth on 04.02.2019 at 12:39

Written by kaskadian on 03.02.2019 at 08:45

One of the most underrated metal albums ever! They seamlessly blend black & stoner metal. Alive cold dead, the title track and Fallen are all ridiculously good. Not into the covers, but the rest of the album is flawless.

I second that. Even 6.9/10 is still quite overrated.

Wah.. Wa... Wait, you said WHAT? UNDERrated?
A seamless blend of black and stoner metal?

Maybe they were stoned recording this, but the problem is they didn't want to blend in any stoner metal at all. Here and there, it sounds very odd and awful because they terribly failed to keep their standards - not, because they tried to bring in some stoner metal or whatsoever. Basically, they just fucked it up beyond all repair.
This album marks the end of Catamenia as I knew it. They almost split up right after recording this and meanwhile, all but one founding member have departed. With them leaving, all the former skills of the band are gone.

Ya, definitely don't hear stoner, there's somekindof mix of different styles which I gotta say is pretty interesting attempt but didn't result successfully as good songs. Well, IMO "Tuhon Oma" pretty good track but that's the only one - and more like typical melodic BM

Written by No False Steele on 05.02.2019 at 10:58

Ya, definitely don't hear stoner, there's somekindof mix of different styles which I gotta say is pretty interesting attempt but didn't result successfully as good songs. Well, IMO "Tuhon Oma" pretty good track but that's the only one - and more like typical melodic BM

Thanks for your comment, I was already questioning my senses concerning the alleged portion of stoner metal I failed to locate...
Whatever they tried to embody or express, for me, the dilettanteish vocals ruined just about any good approach.

Written by Starvynth on 04.02.2019 at 12:39

Written by kaskadian on 03.02.2019 at 08:45

One of the most underrated metal albums ever! They seamlessly blend black & stoner metal. Alive cold dead, the title track and Fallen are all ridiculously good. Not into the covers, but the rest of the album is flawless.

I second that. Even 6.9/10 is still quite overrated.

Wah.. Wa... Wait, you said WHAT? UNDERrated?
A seamless blend of black and stoner metal?

Maybe they were stoned recording this, but the problem is they didn't want to blend in any stoner metal at all. Here and there, it sounds very odd and awful because they terribly failed to keep their standards - not, because they tried to bring in some stoner metal or whatsoever. Basically, they just fucked it up beyond all repair.
This album marks the end of Catamenia as I knew it. They almost split up right after recording this and meanwhile, all but one founding member have departed. With them leaving, all the former skills of the band are gone.

That was uncanilly quick to throw shade on praise for an album that's 11 y/o. Whoa, Giacomo!!!!!!!!! Hey, love it or hate it. It's metal. Like a masterpiece painting, it may speak to you or speak to me. That's the fucking essence of art, dude.

Written by kaskadian on 08.02.2019 at 13:37

That was uncanilly quick to throw shade on praise for an album that's 11 y/o. Whoa, Giacomo!!!!!!!!! Hey, love it or hate it. It's metal. Like a masterpiece painting, it may speak to you or speak to me. That's the fucking essence of art, dude.

I purchased this album in 2018, so I don't really care how old it is. I neither love nor hate it (6/10 = average), I just think it's the worst stuff they have recorded until then.
You call it flawless, ridiculously good and underrated? That's just fine, it's your very own, very special and personal taste.
But you are wrong calling this a seamless blend of black & stoner metal. And that's not a matter of art or a question of taste but a clear fact.

Quite inferior to almost everything in their Discography, but still some parts are quite enjoyable, as the songs in their native tongue; Tuhon Oma, Uhrimaja, and the more complex and dynamic ones like Garden of Eden. One note on the vocals, the high shrieks sound so fragile, like they are on the edge of not producing any noise, or like the guy is losing his breath (When he shouts Dominion, for example) The more deep voice lines are a lot better.