Vercingetorix

Carnún Rising- Vercingetorix EP

This self-titled EP available for free download from the band’s myspace picks up flawlessly where their last LP “At the Dawn of a New Dark Age” left off. It begins with an arrestingly old skool yet still refreshing Thrash-inflicted riff on blasphemous opener “Temple of Flesh.” So far so good (even if a little generic) but brilliantly executed nonetheless. Track 2 however throws a thunderous curve ball by utilising unusual melodies, snail-paced passages, some great, almost-Celtic drumming, technical guitar solo work and even Gregorian chant; none of which for a second detracts from the ferocious vocals and the all-round skull-stomping immediacy. If Carnún Rising were to call it quits here the would have already delivered a solid but criminally short release but thankfully 2 more storming tracks follow; “Flames of Gergovia” being the heaviest and most old skool on the EP and “Caesar’s Bane” following the great standard already set with it’s tar-thick death growls, great solos and thunderous drumming but still finds space to fit in folky gang chants, more unique melodies and even a sample of clashing steel that recalls the likes of Lair of the Minotaur. This is a cut above your average Death Metal release and Carnún Rising are clearly a band who aren’t afraid to take risks and know not to sacrifice the intensity of their music to show off their technical and esoteric flourishes. 21 minutes of pure, blissful, storming Metal.



Originally printed in Northern Blaze zine issue #1