SGAILE is a one-man Progressive Metal project from Tony Dunn (SAOR, FALLOCH, CNOC AN TURSA) based in Glasgow, Scotland. The story of “Traverse the Bealach” is that of a nomadic traveler in post-apocalyptic Scotland, trying to figure out his fate and facing the elements while travelling north, battling inner demons along the way. Thematically, the inspiration came from the events of the pandemic, humanity's ongoing battle with climate change, and a deep-rooted fascination with long distance hiking.” The album has seven songs.

“Psalms to Shout at the Void” is first. The opening acoustic tones are both pretty and mysterious. Guitar work builds from there, with melody and progressive leanings, and the clean vocals give you a sense of the size of the magnanimous void. The harmonies in the vocals are very strong, and the guitars have a distinctive Scottish sound to them. “Lamentations by the Lochan” was the first single I heard from the album, and it is both powerful and melodic. Tony has a very strong sense of harmony, and melody, and he connects the dots with careful consideration so the song has a cohesive synergy to it. “The Ptarmigan’s Cry” has a more solemn sound. A Ptarmigan is a game bird, much like a grouse, and perhaps his cry signifies the loss of humanity. He can feel it, as can the other animals. No lyric line hits me harder than “we struggle without purpose.” That is as sure as the rising sun each day.

“Introspect” is a short clean guitar song with a very beautiful melody running through it, and it connects the first three songs with the final three. “Silence” is a heavy, chugging sound. One of the more interesting themes on the album is when you think of silence, you would think the song would reflect that. On the contrary, silence can be a powerful statement. Apathy is one of the worst values a person can have. The song shifts through passages of struggle and passages of acceptance, and the changing landscape is dynamic. Heavy bass chugs at the bottom end while delicate piano notes rise above the top, and the song has a hasty sense of a turning point in a person’s life. If we “give into the silence,” we are already dead in my book. “The Broken Spectre” feels like the dark side of life already won, and you are struggling to gain footing in the slide. A powerful combination of despair and resolve spurs you on.

“Entangled in the Light” closes the album. The culminating track signifies victory against your demons, and there is no better feeling. The music is uplifting and reminds of the unbreakable will of the human spirit. I love an album that has themes and meaning, and this one does for sure. The best part of the album for me is the balance between progressive elements and melodic ones, the vocal harmonies, as well as the tinge of traditional Scottish folk melodies running through it so subtly. Tony keeps pushing himself as a songwriter as well, and the result is another amazing album.