Metal Underground.com

Being released as part of Candlelight Records’ “cult” series for developing artists, Cnoc An Tursa’s debut album is already on the level of quite a few extreme metal acts that have been refining their sound for decades. “The Giants of Auld” is a surprise hit for first quarter 2013 releases, and one that will resonate with metal fans throughout the year and beyond.

Representing the Scottish metal scene, Cnoc An Tursa is an interesting blend of different styles that satisfies on nearly every level. Although tagged as a folk metal release, “The Giants of Auld” is focused more heavily on the guitars and vocals than on the symphonic sounds. These tracks maintain a strong bass presence, work acoustic guitars in without getting the softer sounds lost in the mix, and there is an incredibly solid balance between the folk and metal sides. The album doesn’t really have any down time where the heaviness gets lost, with the energy always running strong and high.

Thematically, the band’s debut full-length is focused on Scottish history and poetry. Those who aren’t interested in that sort of thing don’t have to look elsewhere for their metal fix however, as the vocals are extreme enough to keep the heads banging regardless of lyrical content. Front man Alan Buchan’s throaty growls are clearly rooted in the raspy black metal sound, but there’s a gruffness to it that brings to mind melodic death metal acts. While polished and effective, the vocals unfortunately don’t have much variation and there’s no clean singing to balance everything, so the growling does become fairly repetitive by the time the last song ends.

Vocal issues aside, Cnoc An Tursa has developed a formula that unquestionably works. Black/death fans will dig the music and vocals, the folk touches add another dimension to the music, and lovers of Scottish history get icing on the cake with the lyrics.