Review SAOR “Amidst the Ruins”

Founded in 2013, SAOR has already released five full-length albums that show the productivity of Andy Marshall. It all started with “Roots” in 2013 and “Amidst the Ruins” is already the sixth release from the Scotsman.

The one-man band combines the Celtic heritage with black metal sounds to create an atmospheric sound collage that resonates in songs like the impressive opener. It is the title track that shows within a running time of almost 13 minutes why SAOR is such a remarkable player in the field of blackened metal. Worlds of sound unfold as you are drawn into the boundless expanse of this song. The Scottish lore is an essential part of the song and the album, as mighty as the Scottish Highlands.

“Amidst the Ruins” has a tracklist of five songs and the fact that the running time is almost an hour makes everyone aware of the fact that we are facing some extra long tracks on this longplayer. “Echoes of the Ancient Land” is such a song, spreading the same heritage driven spirit as the opener while sounding heavier in some blasting moments. At the same time, Marshall is able to create cinematic soundscapes that provide a gentle counterpart to the harsher moments. Clean vocals are just as important as the hoarse screams that reflect the blackened heart of this album.

The third chapter is called “Glen of Sorrow” and as the title suggests, it is a dark and melancholic song, which is evident from the very beginning. It’s like gray shades of mist shrouding the peaks of the Highlands, and although the song builds as it progresses, it’s the melancholy feeling that remains throughout.

One of the album’s lead singles is called “The Sylvan Embrace”, which with eight minutes is a rather short track on this release. Marshall and SAOR stick to their principles and yet we hear a different interpretation of the SAOR sound. The folk-driven heritage comes much more to the fore during this rather calm song that shows a gentle face. It is a stunning moment on the album, with whispered vocals marking a counterpart to the raging and blackened moment of “Echoes of the Ancient Land”.

To conclude: “Amidst the Ruins” is a blackened and melancholic album with songs that are an ode to heritage and a tribute to Scotland’s endless landscapes. Reflecting the roughness of nature as well as its beauty is what resonates throughout “Amidst the Ruins” from beginning to end. This album is an atmospheric musical journey through the hills and valleys of ancient Scotland.