Whilst Scotland has more than its fair share of stereotypes, especially those created by their noisy southern neighbours, it’s a country absolutely bursting with its rich own history and folklore that far extends beyond the view of Edinburgh castle.
Scotland’s vast network of lochs, valleys, crags, isles and of course iconic highlands are all steeped in myths, tales and legends. Ten years ago, Andy Marshall created the one-man project Saor in an attempt to bring those stories to the masses, simultaneously giving birth to the sub-genre ‘Caledonian Metal’. This year see’s Saor return with album number five, Origins.
When diving into a Saor album we need to leave any preconceptions at the door as the sound will regularly change to coincide with the album’s subject matter and Origins is no different. Taking its influence from the lives, gods and battles of the Picts the album is a journey through the Scottish landscape. Opening with ‘Call of the Carnyx’ Marshall dazzles us with his world-building abilities. It’s all about atmosphere and Saor bring it by the bucket load, countless ebbing and flowing crescendos, folk / pagan style vocals and galloping riffs transport us into the heart of Marshall’s world. Bagpipes and the Carnyx – an ancient war horn used to call the Picts to battle, have been layered into the mix for that added authenticity.
Origins is considerably more guitar driven than its predecessor Forgotten Paths, which lent itself more towards folk instrumentation whilst the metal elements took a back seat. ‘Aurora’ mounts multiple genres, neatly tying together each of the styles explored throughout the album. Though the black metal elements are often still secondary, the mix of clean and harsh vocals make for a far more emotive listening experience. Each track seems to consist of movements that give way and allow the songs to breathe, so each in turn can have their moment to truly shine. Oft at times it feels closer to listening to a piece of classical music performed by an orchestra than a folk metal album.
Two other most notable changes in sound come from the drums and percussion and Marshall’s lead vocals. With war march-like drum sounds hammering their way through the music accompanied by a new higher pitched howling vocal style, tracks such as ‘Beyond The Wall’ reinforce those vivid images of ancient peoples making their way through awe-inspiring, expansive landscapes.
Origins closes with its title track, a masterclass in genre-spanning enormity. Moving through slightly muddied black metal into a lengthy interlude the song and album are finally brought to a gargantuan close as ‘Origins’ cascades into a monumental wall of sound and emotion. With precise, crystal clear production throughout, Andy Marshall and Saor prove to be in a league of their own with Origins possibly being the band’s finest and most accomplished work to date.