SGAILE is the solo project of Scottish multi-instrumentalist Tony Dunn, a venture that was a long time in the making due to Dunn's commitments with other bands. "For almost a decade, I had concentrated on playing other people's songs, singing other people's lyrics, and not feeling that I had an identity of my own. The name Sgàile means "ghost" or "shade" in Gaelic, and this was born from the fact that I didn't quite "fit in" with the Scottish Black Metal scene that these bands were an integral part of." The album contains eight tracks.

"An Ath Rud" leads off the album. It's a mood-setter, and the mood is spirited from the uplifting guitar riff. When the full sound hits, it's connivingly melodic and very pleasing to the ear. "The Summit" opens with a more straightforward sound but with the melody still very much alive. Tony does a nice job with the vocals...it almost sound Post-Metal in nature, and there are unusual elements here...some Doom, some 80's...even Post Black. "Instinct" begins with atmospheric tones, and a slow, dreamy pace. Harmonized vocals soar over a bed of rough rhythms and double bass drums. It picks up in both pace and intensity as it moves forward. The acoustical melodies are a supplemental point of charm.

"The Generalist" opens with some more atmosphere and mood behind the clean guitar tones. Despondent tones are developed here, along with the heavy rhythms. There are layers at work, building upon on one another subtly, and it ends on some nice piano notes. "Enlighten Me" is a longer track with a slower, more melancholic sound. I picture the cold, rainy Scottish landscape, and someone trying to push through to find warm, green rewards on the other side of the mountain. The dual vocals lead no obvious conclusion as to whether or not the traveler found what he was looking for. "Kick Harder, Kick Louder" is a heavier song with a rough riff and even some cowbell. Call me a Campbell, but I definitely hear some Scottish melodies in the opening sequence. Around the half-way mark, another melody springs forth, hardening your sense of resolve.

"Eternal Tales" is a nine-minute opus, beginning with heavy guitars and an even, smooth rhythm to go along with the vocals. It backs down to more ambient tones near the half-way mark, picking back up with clean guitars and vocal "oohs" and running heartily until the end. "Façade" closes the album; a fifteen-minute beast. A "façade" is "an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality." It begins with aggressive yet quite melodic tones and an ominous feeling settles in. Bass guitar thumps away with harmonized vocals. It's a very emotional song, with a lot of different elements, and some fantastic guitar layers. It changes over to a heavy and aggressive riff towards the end, culminating in a long and dismal ending.

Tony's use of melody is somewhat unconventional but every bit as catchy as anything out there. He uses a variety of instruments in many different ways. The really odd part is that after reviewing thousands of albums I am still not sure where this fits in, but that's just my overly obsessive need to categorize everything. It's obviously a very personal album, sounding nothing like CNOC AN TURSA, where you might know him from. Depressing at times, but energizing at others, it's like a tale of two competing emotions and you are not sure which one came out on top in the end. Not all tales have to be wrapped up neatly, as it's about the journey here, not the destination.Purchase Link:

https://sgaile.bandcamp.com/