In 2023, ALDAARON returns with their new album, “Majestic Heights, Melancholic Depths.” Drawing inspiration from the narratives of Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of the Fallen,' this album showcases their growth and evolution as musicians while retaining the epic, melancholic, and furious compositions that define their sound. Through this album, ALDAARON invites listeners on an immersive odyssey, where each track unfurls like a vivid chapter in an epic saga, beckoning them to traverse a landscape of intricate melodies, poignant emotions, and unwavering intensity.

“Bannières de nuit” is first. An overly treble wall of guitars hits the listener, followed by machine gun paced drumming and screaming vocals. Besides some modern touches, mostly in the guitar work, it sounds like FWOBM inspired music. “Rôdeur des sommets” is a very short one-minute song consisting mostly of harrowing background elements, seguing into “Monti Vagus,” which is another intense song packed to the brim with sonority and played with what sounds like twice the speed of a normal song. There are also some frightening elements mashed into the madness. It slows at some point and lets you breathe, but you breathe in air that nearly deflates your lungs.

“Chroniques des jours d'alors” follows another short mood-setter. It begins with clean guitars and a melancholy feeling, but the floor soon falls out as the Dark Lord rises from underneath. There are also chord progressions which suggest that the band has some musical training. “Les tambours et le fer” has a straight up frightening sound from the first notes of the riff. The gates bust open and a massive beast emerges. It rides on a steady stream of hate and anger, and there is enough of that to carry it wherever it wants to go. “Impassibles cenotaphs” begins with a clean guitar reprieve before they unleash the dogs of war, and they come at you full bore.

“The knell and the world” closes the album. A majestic opening sequence leads to structure guitar riffs and a sense of grandiosity. A knell is the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral. Indeed, it does sound like the end of all times. Overall, I was impressed with the band’s attention to detail on the album. At first, it sounded like a FWOBM inspired album, but dig deeper, and you will find much more. The album title reflects what you are listening to…majestic heights, and melancholic depths.