A contender for "Album Of The Year".

After an auspicious start that saw the release of two albums that the band have now all but disowned, 2008's Whitesnake-inspired 'Are You Ready To Rock' finally gave Eclipse the deserved recognition. However, it was 2012's critically acclaimed 'Bleed & Scream' opus that saw the Swedes transcend from trailblazers to the trendsetters of the Melodic Hard Rock scene, its perfect blend of muscle and melody establishing the album as a genre classic. By the time the ensuing 'Armageddonize' appeared in 2015, Erik Mårtensson's star had risen so rapidly due to his reputation as one of Melodic Rock's dignitaries, its success was virtually guaranteed – and rightly deserved.

An accomplished producer, gifted song-writer, supremely talented singer/front-man and a vastly under-rated guitarist (I would like to see him play more, but I guess when you've got somebody of the calibre of Magnus Henriksson in your band, you're more than catered for in that department), all-round workaholic Mårtensson has amassed an impressive CV that's far too large to list here, though naturally his best material is reserved for his priority – Eclipse.

'Monumentum' sees Eclipse continuing the more commercialised, slightly less-Heavy Metal approach initiated on 'Armageddonize'. It's abundant with the powerful, fist-pumping, insanely melodic anthems, replete with the immense choruses Mårtensson excels at, though there are hints of a slightly darker, intense, more contemporary mood strewn throughout the album. Basically, if you like what Eclipse have achieved previously, then the likes of the catchy-as-hell 'Vertigo', 'Never Look Back', 'Jaded', 'Born To Lead' and 'Night Comes Crawling', the moody 'Killing Me' and the atmospheric ballad 'Hurt' are everything you would expect and more, while the shimmering 'Downfall Of Eden' and the darkly dynamic 'Black Rain' are contenders for Mårtensson's greatest compositions to date. Naturally, the production is superbly bombastic, and the individual performances are amazing. Mårtensson, Henriksson, bassist Magnus Ulfstedt and new drummer Philip Crusner have delivered exactly what their fans demand and expect.

In all honesty, it isn't quite as good as '...Scream' and it's probably unlikely that Mårtensson and Co. will ever make an album quite as good as that monumental effort. However, in terms of Melodic Hard Rock, 'Monumentum' is still an awesome release that eclipses (sorry) most of the current competition. Though early in 2017, a benchmark has been laid with a contender for "Album Of The Year". Beat that, H.e.a.t.

Ant Heeks