Saor – Amidst The Ruins
Epic, haunting, complex and there are only five songs; it’s the sixth album from Scottish black/folk metal band Saor, or rather as Andy Marshall, the mastermind and highly talented musician behind this band describes it, Caledonian Metal.
From the opening of the title track, Amidst The Ruins, it’s all here; crushing metal, fast double kicks and blast beats blending perfectly and effortlessly with traditional instrumentation and stirring uplifting Celtic melodies, yet it also somehow manages to do that magical thing that only the best Atmospheric Black Metal can do; the drums are moving so quickly that they seem to lose all sense of rhythm and simply wash over the listener like a wave but then can spin in a second and kick back into straight up driving rock music. It truly is a skill to compose and arrange music that can do this and that’s what’s on display here. And don’t expect standard verse, chorus, verse arrangements; the songs here are long, with the longest clocking in at 14:09. Each one is a journey, through whispering woods and misty glens, past standing stones and lonely cairns, a journey into the past, a journey into the Highlands.
Echoes Of The Ancient Land builds on the epic opener but sees more clean vocals than I remember appearing on any of the previous albums. Glen Of Sorrow opens up with haunting guitars with an unsettlingly long pre-delay reverb effect, which gives a real moody, poignant feel and when the lead riff finally arrives the song develops a funereal air which then gives way to crushing metal and an absolutely great hooky, catchy melodic riff. The Sylvan Embrace opens with solitary acoustic guitar and evocative percussive elements, which could almost be dissonant screams of rage; a metaphor for the modern world and struggles with mental health? Possibly, but whatever the answer the sentiment of this song is clear, nature heals. The song remains acoustic throughout, and ends with powerful solo female vocals, provided by guest musician Ella Zlotos.
Female vocals, alongside whistles and pipes, are a major feature of the album and help to create atmosphere and a palpable Celtic feel. Production is great too; the drums and guitars provide texture and the bass is really audible, which is often not the case with traditional black metal. The mix is also excellent as the drums do come to the fore when needed in the more straightforward rocking sections but slip into the background when atmosphere is required.
To this point my only criticism has been that although the album is very “Celtic”, it’s not what I really want from this band, in that we’ve had nothing overtly Scottish sounding, but as we finally reach the 8 minute mark in the final, and for me standout track Rebirth, it arrives; a modulation to a major key and it’s there, unapologetic, uplifting Scottish rock; it’s as if Big Country and Runrig have been filtered through the metal mind of Andy Marshall and what came out was Saor. What a track to close the album; epic pounding metal tom fills come back in and seem to build to a huge climax but then it strips back to haunting pipes and drones and if you close your eyes I swear you’ll see the Saltires fluttering proudly in the Highland breeze. It’s early in the year I know, but it’s really going to take something special for this not to be my album of the year. Why not 10/10? Simply because I think the previous album is even better! Magnificent.
Rating: 9/10 – Excellent
Wayne McAloon | Now Spinning Magazine
