TALANAS – “Asylum”

TalanAsylumEven with a genre as narrow as Progressive Death Metal, bands taking a step back and releasing an altogether more sedate collection of tracks is by no means unique.  For example Opeth very successfully chanced their arm with “Damnation” and more recently Spires laid their souls bare with the incredible “Lucid Abstractions” EP, but this takes a different path still. Stripping back the electrics, distortion, extremity of vocal and drum, the aforementioned examples released works of beauty. Talanas did not… Continue reading

RANNOCH – “Between Two Worlds”

Rannoch13It was clear from the outset that Rannoch were worthy of our collective attention in 2008 when they released their début EP, “Talamh Màthair”.  The release displayed ability, confidence and promise in abundance, shining their light forwards and hinting at what may come from putting their own stamp of Extreme Progressive Metal.

Some time passed with little heard from the band, save for electric and acoustic appearances at Bloodstock Open Air in 2011 which tempted more people in to their charms.  Now some five years after the début EP, courtesy of London’s Eulogy Media, we finally have the release of the first full length album and it they build on the solid foundations of the earlier work to achieve a powerful and diverse release. Continue reading

TALANAS – “The Waspkeeper”

TalanasTalanas‘ “The Waspkeeper” is quite simply, Album Of The Year [2011]. Last year’s debut EP and the name-dropping of My Dying Bride, Porcupine Tree and Akercocke hinted at what may come and whetted my appetite, but I was not prepared for this. Continue reading