Album Review: Cruel Life Inside – Eclipsis Vitae (Casus Belli Musica/Beverina Productions)

Eclipsis Vitae represents the first full length from Cruel Life Inside. The album describes an intense journey through dark times and emotions that everyone of us has experienced at least once in life, shifting from pain to rage, from suffering to hope. It also has a sub-theme dedicated to the Calabrian landscapes – rich of mountains, woods and lakes – and it’s intended to be a tribute to the mountainous plateau of Sila (located in the septentrional area of Calabria), a mystical place of peace and meditation.

Eclipsis Vitae will be released on March 12th, 2021 via Casus Belli Musica and Beverina Productions.

A powerful force of atmospheric and post black metal, Cruel Life Inside know exactly how to touch the soul. While still being undeniably fierce in their approach to how they express their feelings. Building up the melancholy with Dolor before erupting into a heartfelt slab of penetrating black metal on Ignis. The swathes of ambient darkness washing over with feverish passion.

Fletus is a much more drawn out affair with a slower and doomier tempo but with sadness seeping through the guitars. A very effecting piece of music and one that requires focus.

The gothic sounding piano melody of Infirmus drips in melancholy, a sort of intermission that bleeds into Vernum. The melodrama of just the piano and vocals at the start keeps things sounding quite dejected. Before the guitars and drums take things up to a heavier plateau where Cruel Life Inside sit comfortably. It’s downright beautiful.

There’s more beauty and unflinching bleak metal with the penultimate offering, Loricum before the album ends as it began with Cura. Disconsolate and downbeat but so very satisfyingly.

It’s not an uplifting experience but it will make you feel and that is never a bad thing.

Cruel Life Inside – Eclipsis Vitae Full Track Listing:

1. Dolor
2. Ignis
3. Fletus
4. Infirmus
5. Vernum
6. Loricum
7. Cura

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