Triumphal Vengeance- Crossing the Rubicon [EP]

With the coming of the band’s second EP, Triumphal Vengeance has turned quite a few things around. While the band, consisting of sole member Nebel, still plays Pagan Black Metal, the formula is rather enhanced and at times, somewhat different. What has remained is the uptempo forward thrusting Black Metal with an epic character and some entrancing lead melodies that is strongly inspired by the Norwegian Black Metal scene. But compared to the debut ‘Atavistic Darkness’, some things have changed too. For one, the vocals have moved from a maniacial chanting (not unlike for instance Nécropole and Cénotaphe) to a more raspy and throaty approach. Furthermore, we can frequently hear clean singing. With some added acoustic passages, the band moved into a direction where influences from Satyricon, Darkthrone and Gorgoroth are now mixed with Bathory and Isengard.

This enriched formula has made the sound of Triumphal Vengeance fuller, more dynamic and more adventurous. ‘Forged by Ashes and Blood’ is a gritty song with an epic undertone, where the lead develops and the drum tempos shift continuously. ‘Deathlike March’ is midpaced rocking track with melodic leads guiding the song along with rather impressive clean vocals. It is here that parallels with Isengard are undeniable, and the mix of the epic clean vocals, catchy leads and raspy shrieks works exceptionally well. In the subsequent ‘A Vision! Across the Battlefield’ the pace is more ferocious, and the track has an unpredictable character, where continuously small variations in the layered riffs are introduced. Midway the music shifts in more Heavy Metal territories and takes a melancholic twist that slowly develops into a lingering lead. Within the closing title track, sharp and upwards sliding riff and leading melodies evoke an epic atmosphere, and the leads in the vein of Dissection are a great complement to the raw production. With shifts in pace, Heavy Metal melodies, hoarse cries and epic vocals, the song is the proverbial cherry on the cake, harboring all the redeeming qualities of the band in one.

Even though ‘Atavistic Darkness’ was an excellent first release for the band, ‘Crossing the Rubicon’ feels like a solid step forward for Triumphal Vengeance. The addition of clean vocals give it a more epic and catchy character, yet it hasn’t come at the cost of the raw character of the music. Comes recommended for those that like Medieval and Pagan Black Metal.