Eclipse – Megalomanium II

Eclipse
Megalomanium II
Label: Frontiers Records s.r.l.
Out: 20. September 2024
Playing time: 39:39

Author: Erich Robbers (Rockcastle Franken)

Insanity…. Swedish Hard Rockers Eclipse have been around for almost 25 years now. The guys have released nine albums so far and never tire of continuing to foist fine Melodic Metal on their fans. In terms of quality, the Swedes have long been at the forefront, but there hasn’t been much innovation for a long time. Eclipse are now following up their 2023 album ‘Megalomanium’ with ‘Megalomanium II’. Why change even successful traditions?

Thus, we experience eleven new songs that seamlessly continue the band’s success story and only vary the sound in nuances. Singer Erik Martensson continues to delight both men and women with his clear voice and the instrumental group around guitarist Magnus Henriksson confidently shares the finest melodic arcs and sometimes more powerful tones with their audience. The opener ‘Apocalypse Blues’ is the best example of the catchiness, melodic understanding and sing-along quality of many Eclipse songs. Synth sounds, powerful drums, but also a rather pop chorus adorn the following ‘The Spark’. Somehow Eclipse sometimes sound like the softer Def Leppard of the 90s/00s, with whom they have also toured. So the sound of the deaf leopards is probably also colouring.

Alongside Pop/ Rock tracks such as ‘Falling To My Knees’ with Na-Na-Na vocals and the indispensable (power) ballads such as ‘Still My Hero’ or ‘Dive Into You’, as well as ‘To Say Goodbye’, it is honestly the rockier tracks that are more appealing on Eclipse. ‘Divide & Conquer’, for example, shines with its hard riff, up-tempo, fast rhythms and groovy guitar solo. Or the slightly folky melody of ‘Until The War Is Over’.

For me personally, the most appealing song is the closing number ‘One In A Million’ due to its mystical mood, dark sounds, hard and rocking epochal twists and the exuberant melodies despite everything. It sounds really good.

With ‘Megalomanium II’, Eclipse continue where they started almost 25 years ago. Only with much more routine, understanding of songwriting and quality. This means that fans of the Swedes and Melodic Heavy Rock in general will immediately get to grips with this album and enjoy eleven new melodic anthems. Nothing new from Sweden, but nothing bad either.

Eclipse – All I Want: https://youtu.be/9UO6MaPDh5Q?si=4YiLVQbDU1_FWVie

Lineup:

Erik Mårtensson – Vocals
Magnus Henriksson – Guitars
Philip Crusner – Drums
Victor Crusner – Bass

Track list:

• Apocalypse Blues
• The Spark
• Falling To My Knees
• All I Want
• Still My Hero
• Dive Into You
• Until The War Is Over
• Divide & Conquer
• Pieces
• To Say Goodbye
• One In A Million

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