I don’t know much about Eremit, save for the fact that they are from Germany, they are on the excellent Transcending Obscurity record label, and that their logo features a twist on the classic Conan the Barbarian sword graphic.
This is a two track EP, and while you may be wondering what value for money you’re going to get, the shortest of the two tracks is still way over the eight minutes mark. The opener, the wonderfully titled “Beheading the Inumerous” beings with a slow, filthy groove-laden sludge doom stomp, and gradually manages to limp to a shuffling mid tempo speed. In many ways, this is musically reminiscent of acts like Electric Wizard and Weedeater, with the same kind of atavistic, primitive drum work, the subterranean pulse of the bass, the hypnotic guitars and the unhinged snarling vocals. At the seven minute mark, the gears change again, and the track moves into much more aggressive and attacking mode. It’s testament to the lads that this track only really feels like it’s around the five minutes mark, despite being much longer in actuality.
“City of Rash-Il-Num” is the closer, and starts with a very spaced out, almost psychedelic intro. Tubular bells and chimes are with the percussion, while distant chanting vocals and phased sound effects swirl around. At around the five minute mark, this then morphs gradually into a more traditional rock arrangement, until at around eight minutes, everything is forced to stop and an almost d-beat punk version of doom takes over. After such a mesmerising beginning, this left field turn of events hits your senses like a freight train.
At only two tracks long, even with tracks that last longer than most modern government policies, this still manages to make quite the impression. Certainly, one of the more promising releases I have heard this year.
(8/10 Chris Davison)
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