There have been a few metal bands to use the name Eos over the years, but this latest group hails from Australia and the press release mentions they’ve been honing what would become their debut The Great Ascension over a span of four years. While their identities remain a mystery, it’s clear the trio wishes for the music to speak for itself and they’ve delivered a strong first statement with their debut as the material moves between aggressive and powerful melodies that give off a triumphant tone. They have left themselves to grow even further and truly carve out their own space in the crowded world of black metal, but this is a rock-solid foundation that already makes Eos a band worthy of your attention.
What stands out initially about The Great Ascension is how aggressive and powerful the instrumentation is. The title track starts things off with blast beats and scorching guitar and bass work that seem to only get more and more intense as it progresses, capturing the rabid and violent nature of much of second-wave black metal. But once “Valkyrie” begins it becomes clear that Eos has a bit more to their repertoire than the same blast beats and non-stop abrasiveness for an entire album as this song allows some melodies to hover over top of the pummeling base. These two sides continue to work in tandem over each of the pieces, with the rawness and triumphant, warriorlike climaxes giving way to some softer, eerier moments that get under your skin. Towards the end the band has also added in a cover of Lord Belial’s “Black Winter Bloodbath” which allows them an additional opportunity to flex their muscles and go for the throat with aggression. Sometimes having a cover in between original material and not as a final bonus track can disrupt the flow, but Eos works it to their advantage and the song flows seamlessly within the context of the overall album. While tracks like “Valkyrie” and “Illumination and Will” really stood out over repeat listens thanks to some stunning leads, some of the others do fall into some familiar sounding patterns and blend together slightly, which is an area where the group can continue to grow in the coming years. But the energy and strength of those peaks has kept me coming back to Eos more than the average black metal band, ensuring they’re already worthy of repeat listens even at this initial stage.
The instrumentals may offer a handful of subdued moments, but the vocals rarely let up for The Great Ascension’s entire run-time. You’re greeted with raspy, jagged screams less than thirty seconds into the album with some backing growls placed behind them that create an immense sound. This is one element that Eos nails perfectly, as the performance remains so gritty and in your face that it feels overwhelming at some points and is capable of sending chills down your spine. Despite how forward the screams and growls are in the mix they don’t completely overwhelm the material, and as a whole the vocals and instrumentals feel well balanced throughout. There are definitely some parallel’s between Eos’ vocals and the sheer fire and violence that much of the second-wave bands had to offer, and that adds to the appeal.
It’s evident that a lot of polish has been put into this material, and considering the four year plus incubation period (with the press blurbs mentioning that some ideas go back almost a decade) this puts Eos a step ahead of some of the other black metal newcomers. Although the approach makes some of the songs blend together a bit and there’s room for them to further blur the lines between haunting atmosphere and powerful, aggressive riffing, there’s still a lot to like about this debut and this trio is an exciting addition to the genre. The Great Ascension is available from Brilliant Emperor Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
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