Black Metal, but with Bagpipes…
After publishing my Albums of the Year for 2025, something came my way that took me completely by surprise.
Released in February 2025, the one-man black metal band Saor released Amidst The Ruins.
Musical differences
I tend to rely on friends (and the Qobuz magazine) to push me out of my comfort zone when it comes to music. Left to my own devices I will often wear out my favourites to the point of exhaustion.
Lately some of my friends have been gravitating towards black metal…and I usually struggle with that. Unlike death, specifically progressive or melodic death which tend to be front and centre in the mix, black metal vocals tend to be very recessed, almost quiet. Arguably too quiet.
Sure, you can hear them, they’re in the room with you somewhere. Maybe they’re in the other corner, but they are largely drowned out by the rest of the instrumentation.
With Saor this is still the case. I really like what I can hear of the vocals, but it is the ’everything else’ that provides the secret sauce.
The most recent two Saor albums are infused with Gaelic charm, incorporating tin whistles, Uilleann Pipes, violins and cellos. I believe this sets the music apart from everyone else I’ve heard lately, providing something distinctly Scottish and unquestionably captivating.
At around 8 minutes in, the final track ‘Rebirth’ complete turns on its head and provides a wonderful conclusion to what is a stunning album.