EREMIT have made a name for themselves in the underground scene since forming in 2015 and releasing their first full-length album, “Carrier of Weight,” in 2018. Few bands in the modern doom metal scene can match the epic scope in which EREMIT play their music and also present their lyrics, story, and concept. Since that massive debut album, the band has released two more full-lengths in addition to an EP, two live albums and a compilation. The band has now returned with their second EP, the two song, 35 minute long “Rise of the Ruan~angh.”

This EP offers more content, and length, than many full-length albums so despite the two song approach, there is plenty of content here to digest. EREMIT’s music certainly is more of an esoteric creature and not entirely plateable to the common music listener....but if this kind of music speaks to you like it does me, then this release is yet another chapter in their journey that continues to grow the band’s ever sprawling legend. I don’t want to give anything away, as music such as this needs to be experienced first hand so to speak, but this is a continuation of sorts from their first ep “Desert of Ghouls.” The story is back to the city Râsh-il-nûm although it is years later and things have drastically changed. The EP centers on the Mungh~ko tribe instead of Umno, who has been the centerpiece of all their previous releases.

Musically, it holds down the core sound of the band but there are some key differences, of course. Especially compared to their previous full length, this EP is a much more immediate experience. While both songs are long with intros that build up the story and music simultaneously, the impact hits quicker and there is less of an ambient sprawl; this makes sense given the shorter runtime. With more of a tighter focus on the more solid elements of the band, the songs sound extremely serried and the vocals are impossibly abrasive. It all makes for a very convincing slab of music that remains serious even as it stretches the bounds of imagination.

The production captures the very essence of their sound, containing the scope even as the very live feeling recording threatens to burst beyond its confines. This constantly seemingly never ending bubble helps their doom fester and change into its own myth, fully capable of adapting even as it devours. Doom, drone, sludge, ambient, drone and black metal all find their place among the songs, each element coming together as a whole but distinctly heard in their own right. The EP begins with “As Two Armies Converge.” Ambient sounds arise as the two march towards each other, culminating at the 3:15 mark. The steady, mid paced beat is one of the faster moments EREMIT has done but the guitars (EREMIT don’t use bass) still retain their doom edge and the abrasive undercurrent of sludge. Mo and Pascal know their craft and exactly where, what, and when they should place their music. The blackened vocals are vicious, riding on top of the music as another layer to the instruments.

Marco's drums, as always, are on point—consistently interesting especially for such a style that it must keep resting upon its substantial soldiers. The guitar solo captures the heat of the sands, a psychedelic moment that twists the path of the music, wringing water and blood out of it like a sponge. The halfway mark is a balls out doom breakdown that is one of the best moments not only on the EP but in their entire career. Afterwards the song winds down to classic, slow as hell Eremit. I love it so much, I love the song starts stronger and still provides its best moments near the end. Another classic element of the band appears for the last few minutes, clean tones and ambient textures that end the song in a regal, epic way.

“To Face An Enemy Unknown,” is a “shorter” song at nearly 12 minutes in length. The clean notes in the beginning are catchy, creating a cadence that sticks in the mind and grabs on tight until it fades out to let mega low guitar take over. Eerie ambient tones intertwine as the song becomes haunting. Once the distortion kicks in, the song goes into a whole new level what atmospheric truly means and what it can do for doom. Both the guitars and drums dig DEEP; earth moving, earth shattering music. The vocals kick up the energy as the riffs follow soon after with heaps of groove. It cannot be understated what Marco means to the band—his drums are everything. This is definitely one of the heaviest, most engaging songs the band has written yet.

Although I don’t think it is possible for an EP, even one as good as this, to reach the heights of such a masterful album that is “Wearer of Numerous Forms,” it does an noteworthy job of expanding the EREMIT’s lore of their past even while looking to the future, both musically and concept wise. I can’t think of a better piece of music to bridge the gap between their much awaited fourth full-length album. Quite simply, “Rise of the Ruan~angh” continues to add to the band’s growing legend and solidifies their place in the pantheon of modern doom.