It 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.
Hailing from the West Midlands of England, four-piece Rannoch showcase their take on Modern Progressive Metal, utilising their twin 8 string guitar arsenal to majestic full effect, whilst covering an impressive array of movements, from the magnificent mellow passages with sweeping lead work, the solid and driving chugging riffs and unusually versatile vocals to great effect. This is truly a bold and multi-faceted beast and it works splendidly.
An incredible amount of musical ground is covered on the album and there is so much to captivate throughout. Their talent and vision is beyond question, but they have taken their time to perfect the arrangement and recording of the tracks and nail a great sound. So much is worked into this work and this allows the tracks to embody their own identities, varying in pace and mood.
Clearly an album of two distinct halves, bringing back the nostalgic feel of vinyl releases from yesteryear, the ambient interlude of sixth track “Hallways” emphasises the contrast to what went before and what is to follow. An innovative way to recreate the traditional pause when turning an album over before embarking on the B-side, the calm before the storm.
The real magnificence of this album though is wrapped up in the closing trilogy of tracks that together make up the titled theme of the album. Clocking in at a total time of a little under half an hour, these final three tracks account for almost half of the entire album’s 63 minutes and pulls everything back together to draw you smoothly and effortlessly through the epic at the end to an ultimately satisfying album closure.
In all, a very strong and indulgent début album, showing that this band is a real force to be reckoned with. The UK Extreme Prog Metal scene is particularly vibrant and varied, with many bands really finding their feet and destined for greater recognition and this serves as a great example of the pedigree vying for attention.