FUATH
II
SEASON OF MIST
Saor mainman digs deep into black metal’s roots
This orthodox black metal band of Saor’s Andy Marshall are legit, so steeped in the history of 90s BM that they sound like an unearthed relic from that time rather than a modern pastiche. While Saor are more atmospheric in a contemporary fashion, Fuath – ‘hatred’ in Gaelic – double down on cyclic, tremolo-riff melodies and pounding ceremonial drums to elicit the state of immersion that defined the Scandinavian classics. Austere yet suitably enveloping, opener Prophecies is a striking example of Marshall’s overall approach for the album. The quality doesn’t drop on the remaining four tracks, with the imperial Emperor-esque bombast of The Pyre a resounding highlight. This seasoned composer keenly understands sharp album flow, structural dynamics, how to create cinematic depth, and most importantly, how to distinguish riff transitions in grand ways while still retaining a potently dense atmosphere.