Here I review the new 4th album from Saor, a band I really enjoy already. Their mix of Celtic Folk music and Atmospheric Black Metal is as unique as it is beautiful. The release is due out on February 15th via Avantgarde Music.
- Forgotten Paths kicks right in with huge glacial riffs, blast beats and ambience creating a wall of crystalline sound that just permeates a stunning combination of Black Metal and folk melody. Within seconds I am sold on the total strength that Saor has never compromised to any whim. The string sections tie the piece together with its storming march of guitars and drums that is equally punchy and tranquil. While the harsher sections fade into acoustic guitars after some time melancholic lead melodies build in with such a gorgeous and pristine tone that is perfectly suited to the rest of the music. The variety of vocal assaults that hit in a barrage work excellently together with a mix of anguish and aggression being added to the already huge repertoire of emotivity that flourishes from within the depths of the piece. The piano sections add a bittersweet sadness to the track breaking up the more extreme sections stunningly accompanied by pristine clean vocals. This opening song was filled with life and absolutely phenomenal. Saor are back on top form and I am already excited to see what the rest of the album unfolds into. Fabulous work!
- Monadh drops us in with bleak yet fulfilling warmth from the ambient guitars and a much more sombre tonality to the songwriting. Listening to this song immediately enveloped me in the piece, which while melancholic, is positively beautiful to behold. We are then thrown into spectral instrumentals with haunting guitars, piano and blasting drums all taking the journey once more into the harsher side of Saor, but do not think that there is a lack of grandiose soundscapes, because that is present throughout. The cascading shadows cast by this ferocious yet progressive song are dark, there is certainly a lot of cathartic energy to be found within this piece but there is also, once more, an overwhelming sense of positivity among the grievous howled vocals and blistering guitars. The clean vocals are chilling to the bone with so much passion being poured out carefully into the seemingly endless waves of ambience. The progressive touches of this song once again really allow every element to shine gorgeously within its own light due to the immense flow of one part to the next that are not at all jarring. Another absolutely incredibly piece of musical brilliance.
- Bròn begins with an almost indie vibe to things, with huge distant guitars building up the atmosphere before we are dropped suddenly into the more distorted version of the riff, accompanied by simplistic strings. The captivating and exciting growth of the piece is, of course, full of life and truly does mesmerise me to listen to. The obliterating waves of harsh vocals and scouring drums with the piercing guitars all work together in unison to furiously cast out blissfully enjoyable Black Metal filled with nourishing atmospherics and beauty. The production throughout this release has been consistently amazing, really allowing everything to be captured with a truly orchestral feel to everything. The dancing melodies of the violin are played in an enticing yet haunting manner while everything is just clearly so well thought out. The pipe/flute sections with clean vocals are hypnotically gorgeous with the imagery of the artwork seemingly coming to life before my eyes. Masterful performance and songwriting with perfect execution. This was a symphony of sublime folk music coupled in total harmonic with some decimating Black Metal. Fantastic!
- Exile sadly brings in the end of the album. Starting the final piece off with sampling of waves and more ambient instrumentals, the sheer warmth and searing melancholy is performed with total strength. The joyously tranquil and meditative final piece of music is an aptly beautiful way to close the album that sounds absolutely wonderful. Truly transcendental musicianship that bows out with total grace.
Once more Saor have created a grandiose venture into Folk infused Black Metal that is tranquilly gorgeous while being emotionally crushing. With joy and melancholy encompassed in equal measure, the atmospheric spectacle of this whole release will certainly give even the most seasoned musical fanatic chills. -9/10
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