From Bandcamp, “Hailing from Glasgow and inspired by the mist-clad highlands of Scotland, SAOR is a band that breathes life into history with their majestic blend of black metal intensity and Celtic folk melodies. Guided by the spirit of Caledonia, SAOR's music transcends time, echoing the ancient tales of their homeland. Amidst the melancholy ruins and the grandeur of nature, their latest album, “Amidst the Ruins,” majestically intertwines the past with the present. This album is a tribute to the timeless landscapes and ancestral spirits, capturing the soul of a nation in every note. With Echoes of the Ancient Land and Rebirth, listeners are invited on a journey through weathered glens and ethereal hills, where each melody reveals a narrative of strength, sorrow, and renewal.”

The album has five songs, and the title track is first, and it comes out of the gate with a mixture of Black Metal, Power Metal, Folk Metal, and even some Symphonic Elements. It is decidedly SAOR through and through. There is a haste to the music, almost as if you are racing through the countryside on your steed and must reach your destination by sunset. Much of the sound drops after the half-way mark, and is replaced by beautiful pipes, and then it makes a triumphant return. “We will ride!” he exclaims over and over, and you can feel the resolve. “Echoes of the Ancient Land” has deadly harsh vocals but man, does that melody come through strong. Thick bass guitar notes dance hand in hand with pipes, and you can feel yourself being swept away by the gorgeous music.

“Glen of Sorrow” eases in slowly, almost like the morning mist being burned off by the sunrise. Some of the haze remains behind, in a secretive manner, but the harsh vocals cut through them with might and power. The clean vocal passage combined with lead guitars just affirms the pure strength of this music, and it is uncanny. “The Sylvan Embrace” also eases in slowly, with acoustic guitars and strings. You can’t tell if something is out there in the darkness or not, and you are weary from battle. Let the embrace wash over you however, and make you clean once again. “Rebirth” closes the album and wraps up the ancient tale. This is a very fitting song title, because the music seeps in and energizes the listener, pushing him to carry on, through impossible odds.

Overall, this was a great album. Consider alone all of the various instruments that went into its making, and that guitar was not the focal point. Each composition was filled with strings, pipes, and other instruments, and each one was grandiose in an accessible way. Let “Amidst the Ruins” take you on a journey to ancient times, and ancient lands, and give you just a little escape from your humdrum life.