It’s no secret that Eclipse is a great band. They write kickass tunes and Erik Mårtensson is a great singer. That’s simply the facts as they’re presented to these ears. I’ve been on the Eclipse train since 2015’s Armageddonize with no end in sight. Now we see the release of their tenth studio record Megalomanium II via Frontiers Music and fans of the band should rejoice. Everything you know and love about the guys is there in spades. Great guitar riffs from Magnus Henriksson and a kickass rhythm section performance courtesy of Philip Crusner (drums) and Victor Crusner (bass).
So with all of this, how are the tunes? Funny you should ask because they kick all kinds of ass while keeping the killer hooks the guys are known for. The first two that grabbed my immediate attention were “Still My Hero” and “Dive Into You”. To no one’s surprise these are my favorites, too. “Apocalypse Blues” kicks things off in typical Eclipse fashion, kicking down the door and getting everybody up and moving. “Falling to My Knees” is the perfect balance of catchiness with rock and roll attitude, culminating in Henriksson’s best solo. Another winner for sure!
“All I Want” is one of those numbers that will have fans hitting the repeat button till it damn near breaks, while “Divide & Conquer” is an exercise in power that will have the people moving like it’s the last show on earth. Closing the disc is “One In a Million” which is arguably one of the band’s heaviest tunes, from the music to Mårtensson’s vocals, which are a little more aggressive than some might be used to. Me, I’m all for it! Bottom line is Eclipse have given us yet another great album in Megalomanium II. Get in on this amazing band. You’re welcome.
Standout tracks: “All I Want”, “Falling To My Knees”, “Still My Hero”, “Dive Into You”, “Apocalypse Blues”