Welcome to my review of As Time Retreats by Frostmoon Eclipse. I have to admit, I’d only heard a few of their songs in the past, so it was great to finally sit down and experience one of their albums in full, uninterrupted. This record was a real pleasure to dive into — both musically and atmospherically — and I’m genuinely excited to see what these guys come up with in the future. Let’s get into it.

Track 1

From the very first notes, the clean, shimmering melody sets the tone for the entire album — calm yet full of promise for what’s to come. I really like how the song transitions from blast-beat sections into a more methodical, swaying vibe. The addition of the cool bass guitar lines toward the end was a great touch, and a big shout-out to the “talking” vocals — they fit perfectly.

Track 3

This song was my favourite on the album. It really reminded me of some of the shoegaze music I’ve been listening to recently, especially with the guitar and drums, which have a very spicy, layered quality. Just before the halfway point, the song hits pretty hard — at least for me. The transition into a more “less chaotic” segment is so smooth, with the drums taking centre stage while those “talking” vocals return to create great synergy. The guitar chords, though arguably simple, fit incredibly well. This track was spot-on and kept me wanting to hear more.

Track 4

Another really cool introduction — briefly reminiscent of rock and roll for a few seconds — before it quickly brings you back into that signature Frostmoon Eclipse sound. I particularly liked the ending moments of this song, where the drums take on a more soothing approach with the ride cymbal, snare, and kick forming a light backbone, while the guitars shift into a melodic and melancholic tone.

Track 6

I love the dual guitars playing together — the acoustic provides a light and soothing tone, while the electric adds a slightly warmer feeling. The intro was a nice surprise, and the transition into the first verse was both interesting and untraditional. I’m also a fan of how this track feels “raw” without it sounding underproduced — the production is actually great.

At 1:48, the way the music sways while that awesome “yarrrrrghh” scream hits is perfect, especially with the addition of the cool little drum fill. I particularly liked the subtle use of the bell parts of the cymbals during that fill. As the song progresses, we’re reintroduced to the section from the very start — I always appreciate when bands reuse motifs like that, as it makes the track feel cohesive and complete. This one was a special track for me. Great job

Track 8

This song opens with some seriously refreshing guitar — very clean and clear. I’m a massive fan of tracks that strike this balance of being “not harsh on the ears, but still unmistakably black metal.” The guitarist uses some very cool chords that tie everything together and give the song a rich, layered feeling. From the halfway point onward, the song writing takes a really interesting turn — definitely not following the norm. I love when bands do this; you can really tell who they are as artists when they stray from traditional song writing formulas.

Overview.

All in all, this is an album I genuinely enjoyed. I really liked their approach to composition and felt the acoustic passages that transition back into the black metal sections were executed beautifully. While this isn’t exactly my usual type of black metal, I can definitely appreciate what these guys are creating. I’d give this album a solid 8/10.