10 years after their first demo-release LUNAR ECLIPSE comes out with their second studio album Morbid Visions. Based on their four demos and their first full-length output Chapter Omega the five guys from Bremen/Germany got dealt as an interesting and promising newcomer (if it’s ok to say after 10 years of playing metal) in the German Metal scene. LUNAR ECLIPSE impressed our female leadership – the mighty Cal – so much, that she voted them to the band of the month in May 2001. This is reason enough to have a look at the evolution of these guys.
I have to disappoint all of you guys who hope that not only the title Morbid Visions is equal to Sepultura Morbid Visions but also the rough Death/Thrash style is. Definitely, one of their influences are the British Death Metal heroes Bolt Thrower like heard in Rise Of The Undead, The Reaper and Nightmares, but their main style of metal is melodic Death Metal. LUNAR ECLIPSE isn’t afraid of having two soulful instrumental tracks on this album - Infinity and The End Of Harmony. At the same time The End Of Harmony is the intro to Misanthropic, one of the faster songs of Morbid Visions. The Abyss is slightly black metal orientated before they go back to their main style in Dead End – slow played Death Metal with a dash of melody. Still a question is why LUNAR ECLIPSE brings in some original National Socialism statements in Through The Fire. A statement or the lyrics in the booklet are missing to answer this question – difficult. Also difficult are the deep growls of vocalist Rolf Quast-Janßen. He tries to diversify but the growls don’t fit at any time.
Although LUNAR ECLIPSE tries to fix several different styles on Morbid Visions and arrange atmosphere, the general view is ruled by monotonousness. The stuff is always played interesting but the expectations to this newcomer aren’t fulfilled. The consequence is that these guys won’t be the band of the month for this time. At last I have to give credit for the production. Morbid Visions was completely recorded, mixed and mastered by the band itself. If a label signs and pushes LUNAR ECLIPSE, I am anxious to the next album!