From Bandcamp, “Naturally, the content of KILDONAN’s debut album is not without its own huge sense of import. As they explain, "the inspiration is primarily derived from the culture and history of this area, but also the landscape. I work in forestry and am a keen hill-walker, spending much of my time in the hills, coastline, and woodland of the area. KILDONAN doesn’t seek to romanticize the past - rather, to ensure that it is not forgotten and can be learned from. The lyrics delve into several subjects such as land reform, reforestation, ecological restoration, depopulation of the Highlands etc. The music and lyrics draw from the sorrow and horror of those times and seek to find a sense of hope for the future."

The album has six songs, and the title track is first. It has deeply somber tones, accentuated by the tortured screams underneath the sober sounding clean vocals. “Ioliar – Bhuidhe” has more firm tones, and the dissonant guitar work is excellent. Black Metal is more prominent in this song, and the vocals continue to carry that feeling of sorrow and horror they talked about above. “A Desperate Leap for Salvation” has a more rousing sound, and you can feel the story coming to a head. The chorus brings out the worst in terms of pure emotion, if it doesn’t get under your skin, you may not be human. “Garden of Forking Pathways” has darker tones. There is still a good deal of torture coming from the vocals, and the guitar work is well done.

“Tobar Mheasain” has an even slower and more depressing grind, and the band wants you feel every drop of their misery. It is all summed up in the line “we dwell in the shadows, searching for the light.” “To Gaze Upon the Infinite” closes the album, and there is no silver lining, no absolution, and very little hope. The clean vocals are a little pitchy at times, but it doesn’t keep me from enjoying the album. Overall, this was an album with potential, and you can easily connect with the themes mentioned above. It was Black Metal really only in the sense of some of the backing vocal screams, and took on a more doomy quality for me.