Saor - Amidst the Ruins (2025)

cover

Unleashing their best album to date, today we have Saor and their sixt full-length release “Amidst the Ruins”. Featuring nearly one hour of lush and high-octane Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal, this release delivers five majestic tracks filled with dynamic tempo changes and dreamy melodic arrangements. With each track over 8 minutes long, and most over 11 minutes in duration, this release shows a band perfectly growing into their element while incorporating more elegant elements into the mix.

Opening with the lavish title track, Andy Marshall fiercely delivers blistering riffing and drumming that temporarily subsides for more folky and atmospheric passages. The track expertly grows into melancholic passages filled with dreamy traditional wind and string instruments. Real instruments give this release a very organic vibe as tracks like the opener and “Echos of the Ancient Land” incorporate dramatic string instruments into very harsh guitar driven melodies, and highly melancholic slower passages.

The talented multi-instrumentalist Ella Zlotos lends her vocals, tin whistle, low whistle, and Uilleann pipes to create a very supernatural feeling through this release, particularly in pieces like “Glen of Sorrow” that masterfully create an ethereal vibe amongst the Metal elements. For those looking for even more atmospheric and folk elements, “The Sylvan Embrace” has this in droves as it creates a very solemn and elegant atmosphere.

Saving the best for last, “Rebirth” closes this release with a true aural rebirth of the band’s sound, adding ferocity and more richness to their already impressive sound. As an early candidate for Atmospheric Black Metal release of the year, “”Amidst the Ruins” is a tour-de-force filled with majestic arrangements and a level of ferocity that is rarely blended so effectively in these types of release. Be prepared to be blown away as you peel the layers of this lush release.

Band: Saor Album: Amidst the Ruins

Label: Season of Mist

Release: February 7th, 2025

Homepage Facebook

Genre: Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal

Country: UK

Rating: 98/100
Year: 

Recent Image Galleries