Differently from most black metal bands that delve into the history of the Middle Ages with their lyrics, the Canadian band Catuvolcus chose another theme and focused on the Gauls. The band was formed in 2007 in Quebec and includes 4 members: Pierre-Alexandre Plessix on vocals, Maxime Côté on guitars, Etienne Gallo on drums, and Dominic Forest Lapointe on bass guitar.
Just like their other releases, Catuvolcus is going to take us through the pages of history with their second album, "Gergovia," released in 2012. This concept album is about one of the most important battles in the Gallic Wars, between the Gauls and the Roman legions guided by Julius Caesar, that took place in the Gergovie oppidum in Arverne and ended with the victory of the Gauls. It features nine tracks, starting with an acoustic prologue with the sounds of rain, wind, and mystery, and ending with an epic epilogue. Every track contains some interesting events. I would say every track is a chapter of the story because the writing process is full of narration, and it feels like you're reading a book while reading the lyrics. What makes them more epic is that they're in French, and we all know how amazing the pronunciation of this language is. Adding to that, the very atmospheric music automatically transports you to 52 BC; you totally feel like you’re in the middle of that battle, seeing all that blood and hearing all the strikes of the swords. And while Maxime Côté and Matrak Tveskaeg (former bass player) entertain us with their epic riffs and solos, and the powerful drums excite us, Pierre-Alexandre Plessix also plays an important role with his mighty grunt and some clean vocals.
This album is melodic and brutal at the same time; you can taste the victory as well as the defeat. It ends with a calm acoustic epilogue expressing the end of the battle and connecting with the prologue. That's what makes you not feel that “break” when you replay the album; it automatically makes you want to replay it without taking you out of the atmosphere of the battle.
If you really want to try a new black metal theme and explore different history, if you want to live some moments from antiquity, you should check out Catuvolcus, a band with so much power and many stories to narrate to us.
