Any deity inscribed on pillars, cauldrons and shields throughout the ancient world naturally carries symbolic potential to speak to a few timeless reactivities within the human mind: A monstrosity to be feared, an all-knowing protectorate to be honored, or, perhaps a wise guide through the adaptive plasticity of the human mind yet Piacenza, Italy-based epic doom metal quintet SWARM CHAIN have smartly sourced all three reactions on their treatment of the horned god on this accomplished sophomore full-length album. Their work is neatly arranged and compelling enough in theme to inspired a closer listen as ‘Cernunnos‘ is successful in conveying a conversational narrative between the beast of the unknown, the natural world, and the primal mind accessing them through exploration and adaptation. Where this novelty wears a bit in the long run is in matching those ideas with stylized rhythmic interest and bravado enough to stand out as boldly as they rightfully should.

Swarm Chain formed circa MMXX between three folks best known for their work in symphonic power metal band Dark Horizon after witnessing an epic doom metal performance, assumedly on the same bill, in Germany and deciding to take their own stab at the sub-genre soon after. The full quintet materialized quickly, including folks from long running gothic/progressive metal group Tragodia as well as harsh vocalist Emanuele Cirilli. The interplay between harsh and clean vocals, with the ratio favoring cleans from vocalist/bassist Paolo Veluti, is thus far key to their signature where some manner of gothic death/doom seeps into what otherwise follows (generally speaking) in the general tradition of Candlemass. For their debut LP (‘Looming Darkness‘, 2022) the result was not so devout in pulling from experience in various other sub-genre acts to inform its dramatic ouevre, though it was certainly doom metal. The effect then, and even moreso now, hit like October Tide‘s Högbom-era inflection and grooves set within range of Khemmis‘ extreme metal edged take on epic doom/heavy metal. Their vision for this is proposed in a more dire, less adventurous affectation where gloom hangs heaviest.

The general suggestion made by the band is that the material found on ‘Cernunnos‘ will be somewhat different the second time around as they’d taken more time to write the record while collaborating as a full quintet. The biggest difference you’ll hear as a result is a honing into the weight of gothic death/doom metal and any potential interplay between the two vocalists, bringing the more extreme side of their efforts up to par with modern epic doom metal sensibilities. This means some of the rasped and blackened vocal tirades found on Swarm Chain‘s debut are eased away for the sake of heavier grooves and a more controlled death metal-attuned focus from Cirilli but the two vocalists still generally take turns for the sake of contrast rather than outright clash. Opener and title track “Cernunnos” does a fine job of merging these two temperaments into something simultaneously monstrous and heroic in exchange, suggesting a confrontation not unlike the one depicted on the cover artwork from Costin Chioreanu. This first piece carries a tentative step, movement within an encounter which circles the unknown and as a result the album itself instantly reads as outwardly narrative, eh, for a doom metal related release though the overall tone of the album will evolve on the walk through.

The main perspective achieved within Swarm Chain‘s narrative efforts is that of a “primitive being” awakening to the mysteries of the natural world and reacting first with fear and then adaptation ’til fully rounded. This theme ends up being the full concept of ‘Cernunnos‘ where the Horned God acts as a mirror to the primacy of man, more a reminder of the wonderment available to the natural world than it is a tale of bestial horror overall, which then spirals through elemental adaptation ’til the final promethean gift is revealed. This themed approach allows for some of the usual cinema available to concept albums in that a song like “The Storm Within” features some manner of environmental sounds in between droning, slow-bent grooves and ranting harsh vocals as the conversation continues.

With most pieces on ‘Cernunnos‘ stretching to similar length (~8 minutes each) and pace Swarm Chain have created a satisfyingly linear thread through both theme and movement though I don’t believe the average death/doom metal fandom will be all that thrilled by the riffcraft here, most of which is very simply lain momentum built progressions which chunk in neatly set columnar tide. This paired with lightly nuanced movements that’re typically overlain with dual lead guitar harmonies is all very well appropriate for an epic doom metal band with a dark streak though it hits somewhat samey outright. Some of this perceived sameness of experience is intentional, or, by design in the sense that these folks intend all to flow together in one contiguous motion while conveying an ‘epic’ journey of sorts. Otherwise I’d found both “The Storm Within” and “Earth’s Silent Secret” almost ruthlessly dry in terms of their rhythm guitar arrangements and the lack of interesting bass guitar treatment (“The Shaman” being the exception) given as the band’s focus appears steadfastly upon vocal performance as generator for intrigue within various scene and segue.

Without any wild riffs to cling in mind and the narrative voice of ‘Cernunnos‘ well-established I’d found the greater proposition of Swarm Chain markedly improved in terms of focused purpose, clearer oeuvre and strong concept beyond their first LP though there were only a couple of songs that’d stuck in mind for long after each spin through. In this sense I don’t think there are any faltering ambitions or lack of vision here but for my own taste they’ve not provided a big riff, a wild twist, or unforgettable vocal line that might set me soldiering along with their greater arc for very long. For the devoted doom metal fandom who appreciates some input from “gothic”, epic, and extreme nodes there is yet a well-conceived and somewhat refined experience available herein, they’re pros in this regard. With that said I think they’re capable of bigger showmanship and more clever personage than this, especially considering what a leap in vision they’ve coaxed from this second evolutionary step, but they’re not yet far enough down their path to truly stain the mind. A moderately high recommendation.

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