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Black metal has always had a special relationship with the natural world and SAOR perfectly embody this relationship. Helmed by Andy Marshall, since emerging with 2013’s debut Roots, Marshall‘s love for the rolling Scottish highlands and beauty of his homeland is entrenched in SAOR‘s vast musical landscape. Now, three years after 2022’s Origins, Amidst The Ruins is here and is arguably one of the finest records SAOR have crafted to date.
Whilst 2022’s effort was more direct and abrasive in its delivery, Amidst The Ruins feels like a throwback to the epic majesty of 2016’s Guardians but fear not, this is not some rehash to appease long-time listeners. This is SAOR doing what SAOR do best and the record fires on all cylinders to deliver a listening experience that is nothing short of a triumph. Album opener, the title track Amidst The Ruins, sets the tone in grand fashion as the lengthy runtime allows Marshall to straddle the sombre folk-laden tones with his more metallic offerings expertly well. Just like any great epic, the song ebbs and flows, allowing each musical component to breathe and make a lasting impact, something that is found across the album’s near 59 minute runtime.
Akin to the likes of WINTERFYLLETH and AGALLOCH, Amidst The Ruins is drenched in melancholy and its sombre mood really helps immerse you into SAOR soundscape. The most notable example of this can be found on Glen Of Sorrow. An incredibly heavy and emotional listen, the mournful leads and stunning folk reflect the sombre tone of its subject matter, the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, one of Scotland’s darkest chapters. Taking an incredibly difficult subject and applying enough care and respect whilst still allowing the music itself to impress is no mean feat but Marshall achieves it with the utmost ease and the composition is arguably one of the most emotionally powerful songs SAOR have forged.
Amidst The Ruins‘ biggest triumph is its ability to conjure vivid imagery. The Sylvan Embrace features a welcomed guest contribution from acclaimed cellist JO QUAIL, who intertwines effortlessly with the folk-laden instrumentation to conjure imagery of dense woodlands, whilst Echoes Of The Ancient Land‘s thundering percussion and excellent use of pace and tone helps the track pay tribute to Scotland’s gorgeous landscapes and rich ancestral history. It’s no secret that Marshall‘s infatuation with his homeland and its history lies at the beating heart of everything SAOR stands for, helping the album not just impress compositionally, but it feels utterly authentic.
At this point, seasoned listeners will know what to expect with SAOR. Over the course of 12 years, Marshall has tinkered, tweaked and refined his vision for his project. Familiar for seasoned listeners it may be, but don’t let that familiarity detract from the quality that is displayed throughout Amidst The Ruins‘ lengthy runtime. Grandiose and evocative, epic and bombastic, Amidst The Ruins is a another jewel in the SAOR crown and helps cement the band as a genuine juggernaut in the UK’s consistently strong black metal scene.
Rating: 9/10
Amidst The Ruins is out now via Season Of Mist.
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The post ALBUM REVIEW: Amidst The Ruins – Saor appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
