EP REVIEW: Ocean Is More Ancient Than The Mountains – Plague Of Carcosa

In 2016 in the city of Chicago, Illinois the self professed cult leader and multi-instrumentalist Eric Zann set about creating his own vision of metal musical discovery. Creating a droning, dark take of doom metal not too dissimilar to that of SUNN O))) and BONG under the moniker PLAGUE OF CARCOSA. He then self released the project’s debut album named The Colour Out Of Space before the cult grew, recruiting a drummer and a second guitarist in order to explore further and in greater depth. 2019 sees the band lining up their highest profile release to date titled Ocean Is More Ancient Than The Mountains which sees PLAGUE OF CARCOSA working as only a two piece and with the backing of Sludgelord Records, the intention of the cult is to reach as larger audience as possible. 

Ocean Is More Ancient Than The Mountains opens with the aptly titled Crawling Chaos. The heavy combination of bass and guitars are soaked in a dense fuzz distortion and the booming echoed drums sound colossal as the track swells and grows slowly but surely. When Crawling Chaos kicks in, the pace shifts from a crawl to a lumbering walk with the crashing symbols and heavily distorted guitar lines playing off each other, adding to the grandeur of proceedings. Unfortunately it is at this point that PLAGUE OF CARCOSA run in to an issue; this section of the song massively overstays it’s welcome, becoming incredibly repetitive and monotonous, which is always a risk when there are no vocals included on a track. In the latter stages of the track there is the inclusion of some more technical drum work and the guitar solo become a little more frantic and unhinged. But this is over all too soon and the song very quickly shifts back in to the same heavy, trudging stomp that it has for a vast majority of its eight and a half minute run-time.

The second track on the EP, Madness At Sea begins with a dirty, slow riff engulfed in mass of fuzz and manipulated feedback. The ominous guitar line is dragged out for almost two minutes before the booming drums are introduced to proceedings. In complete contrast to its preseason this track explores plenty of different musical avenues whilst still staying true to the band’s overall sound. The mid section of the song contains an eerie, almost melancholic sounding lead guitar part that adds another layer of melody, without sacrificing any of the doom and gloom that the boys wallow in to such great effect. The second half of the track shows a noticeable change in approach as the group picks up pace like a rolling stone and with the added momentum behind them, PLAGUE OF CARCOSA demonstrate some of their most adventurous work to date with the use of screeching, dissonant guitar sections and off kilter guitar signatures being used to garner crushing results. If this is the kind of sonic battery the boys are capable of it makes the fact that the first track on the album being so monotonous and reserved seem like an even bigger waste of run time.

PLAGUE OF CARCOSA is a project that holds endless potential and bucket loads of talent. Hopefully on their next release they really let loose and explore their sound in the same way that they have during Madness At Sea, rather than the monotonous drone of Crawling Chaos. If they do they could be on to something truly special.

Rating: 6/10

Ocean Is More Ancient Than The Mountains is set for release July 19th via Sludgelord Records. 

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