With the exception of a few select bands, I tend to stay as far away as possible from melodic rock and melodic metal because the bands in these genres usually write songs that are too repetitive for my taste. Sweden’s ECLIPSE is one of those exceptions since the unit around singer Erik Mårtensson deliver vibrant, exciting, and high-energy melodies. They had a couple of decades to polish their formula which is why their newest studio album, “Megalomanium,” is such a fun and engaging listen. The album was released on September 1st, 2023, via Frontiers Records.
The follow-up to the highly acclaimed “Wired” offers more of their sleek, polished melodic hard rock that easily seduces the listeners into either singing along to the hooky choruses or rocking out to the guitar work. The eleven songs that comprise the tracklist of “Megalomanium” are as individual as they are fun with well-crafted melodies that make these tracks real earworms. I think it is fair to say that, with this album, ECLIPSE have not only set the bar even higher when it comes to well-produced and addictive melodic rock but proven once again why this amazing four-piece unit is one of the best rock bands of our times.
Opening the Swedes’s latest magnum opus is the single “The Hardest Part Is Losing You,” a hard-hitting rocker with enough soul to pass for a ballad if even played in an acoustic format. However, as it stands it is a high-octane track with an infectious guitar melody at its core and a vocal delivery from Erik Mårtensson that is equal parts heartfelt and powerful. Kicking things up a notch or two is the energetic second single “Got It!” whose feel-good vibe, larger-than-life chorus, fierce guitars, and overall punkier edge make it into an absolute banger.
The tempo and the mood change with “Anthem,” a Celtic-sounding track that offers a feeling of instant gratification thanks to its simple but effective melody that begs for repeated listens. With the cinematic “Children of the Night,” things get darker and broodier as the song boasts a heavy riff, mysterious atmosphere, and a raspier vocal delivery though still very melodic. So far into the album we have four tracks that offer something different to the other ones while retaining the band’s core sound and I think this versatility in songwriting is exactly what makes ECLIPSE such a top-tier rock band.
The ebb and flow of the music continues with “Hearts Collide” which brings back the sentimentality of the opening track and mixes it up with a decent amount of energy that comes both from the vocals as well as the guitars while “I Don’t Get It” is another straight up rock moment delivered with passion and intensity. Mid-tempo “The Broken” may be initially mistaken for an early 2000s GREEN DAY track given its stirring lyrics that speak to the outcasts but Magnus Henriksson’s guitars, Erik Mårtensson’s restrained vocals, and anthemic rhythm make it clear it’s an ECLIPSE song through and through. Again, we have three songs that offer different moods and emotions, which, in turn, underscores just how varied the album actually is.
Despite its ‘80s vibe, “So Long, Farewell, Goodbye” has some real bite to it that comes from both the crunchy guitars and the powerful delivery and melodic backbone. “High Road” rides high on those guitars and thick bass lines while the vocals soar above them, all wrapped up in a driving groove that explodes into a blazing solo. The penultimate track “One Step Closer to You” has one of the best choruses on this album, a sing-along delight that begs for a live setting where the audience can let loose, wonderfully supported by a tight instrumental section. The album ends with “Forgiven,” a melodic moment that encapsulates all that ECLIPSE stands for as a band.
All-in-all, ECLIPSE definitely show their desire to keep on developing and refining their sound with this album by delivering eleven tracks that burst with energy and feel-good vibes. Consequently, “Megalomanium” is a fun, summery album full to the brim with melodies, hooky choruses, infectious guitar riffs, and enough diversity to their tried-and-tested formula so as to engage the listeners even after multiple replays, by capitalizing on the Swedes’ ability to write incredibly catchy tunes. At the end of the day, it’s not for nothing that ECLIPSE are a longstanding favorite on the melodic hard rock scene.
Written by Andrea Crow
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
Lineup
Erik Mårtensson – Vocals
Magnus Henriksson – Guitars
Philip Crusner – Drums
Victor Crusner – Bass
Label
Frontiers Records
