Among the whispers of timeless glens, Saor breathe new life into the spirits of the past. Inspired by a hilly walk through an older world, Andy Marshall and his band of Caledonian warriors have crafted a majestic symphony that wields the intensity of black metal with Celtic folk melodic in the enthralling form of their new album.
“Amidst the Ruins stretches Saor in new and interesting ways”, Angry Metal Guy writes in a 4/5 review. “Anyone with a mere passing interest in folksy black metal will undoubtedly glean much from Amidst the Ruins“.
Amidst the Ruins comes out this Friday, February 7 on Season of Mist, but you can hear all five monumental songs today by listening to the full album stream on our YouTube channel.
Listen to Amidst the Ruins
https://youtu.be/IuTvnSYsv0Y
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/saoramidsttheruins
Amidst the Ruins pays a towering tribute to the ancestral spirits and untamed landscapes of Caledonia. With each song, Saor recalls tales of yore, opening a door into Scotland’s storied past.
“The Glen of Sorrow” paints the tragic saga of the Massacre of Glencoe. With a spellbinding appearance from internationally acclaimed cellist Jo Quail, “The Sylvan Embrace” reaches into the heart of Scotland’s forests. “Echoes of the Ancient Land” inspires awe. And while “Rebirth” ends the album amidst a 14-minute transformative journey, it’s the title track that lies at the album’s mystical core. “Amidst the Runs” reflects on the bridge between the relics of Scotland’s noble past and the ephemeral distractions of modern life, calling out to the enduring legacy of the land and for us to reconnect with the sacred threads of tradition.
More advanced praise for Amidst the Ruins
“…expect something truly epic” – Metal Injection
“…will elicit images of friends gathering around a campfire, blood-soaked battlefields, the sense of triumph earned after a difficult journey’s end, and everything in between” – Last Rites
“Atmospheric black metal has rarely sounded so profound, so steeped in both sorrow and splendor” – Antihero
“a testament to BM’s unshakable propensity for representing what is beautiful and for delivering what is downright fucking epic” – Metal Bite“This meticulously crafted work is further elevated by a very dynamic, powerful, and simultaneously genuine sound.”
– Scream Magazine
“Evocative and assertive enough to secure Saor’s place within the atmospheric black metal scene.” – Rock Tribune
To commemorate the arrival of their new album, Saor are setting out on tour. Hear them perform Amidst the Ruins for the first time during the band’s upcoming 20-date trek across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Get tickets: https://www.saormusic.com/tour-dates
Saor Amidst the Ruins 2025 UK & EU Tour
Feb 8 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand (ALBUM LAUNCH w/ Domhain & Ofnus)
Feb 13 – Bristol, UK – The Exchange
Feb 14 – Birmingham, UK – The Flapper
Feb 15 – York, UK – Fulford Arms
Mar 15 – Great Yarmouth, UK – HRH Spring Break 2
Mar 28 – Arnhem, NL – Willemeen
Mar 29 – The Hague, NL – Paard
Mar 30 – Kassel, DE – Goldgrube
Apr 17 – Weinheim, DE – Café Central
Apr 18 – Graz, AT – Explosiv
Apr 19 – Munich, DE – Dark Easter Metal Meeting
Apr 20 – Aarburg, CH – Musigburg
Apr 21 – Prague, CZ – Futurum Music Bar
Apr 22 – Poznan, PL – Klub 2progi
Apr 23 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser
Apr 24 – Lichtenfels, DE – Ragnarök Festival
Apr 25 – Bochum, DE – Matrix
Apr 26 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
Apr 27 – Lyon, FR – Le Marché Gare
May 16 – Roggentin, DE, Dat Unland Fier
Tracklist:
1. Amidst the Ruins (12:41) [WATCH]
2. Echoes of the Ancient Land (11:41)
3. Glen of Sorrow (12:05)
4. The Sylvan Embrace (8:19)
5. Rebirth (14:10)
Full runtime: 58:57
Out of the mists, where lore whispers in the winds, SAOR, the heralds of Caledonia’s primeval beauty and ancient tales, rise once again to enrapture souls far and wide. Their newest offering, Amidst the Ruins, is an epic voyage set to rekindle the fires of heritage and resurrect the valor that courses through Scotland’s vast landscapes.
Since their emergence in 2013, SAOR has beckoned listeners to transcend the mortal plain, intertwining the ferocity of atmospheric black metal with the gentle, haunting melodies of Celtic fold. Andy Marshall, the sage bard and architect of SAOR‘s sound, continues his pilgrimage through the verdant glens and stark highlands, revealing sights both ethereal and eternal through his music.
Building upon the chronicles of old, the forthcoming album Amidst the Ruins stands proud, a timeless sentinel amidst the sands of time. For in this work, Marshall, the visionary, has deftly woven strands of modern-life dissonance into the rich tapestry of Scottish lore, enshrining the enigmatic contrast between the remnants of a glorious yore and the often-elusive grasp of the present day. This auditory saga resounds with the resonance of ruined structures and forgotten paths, its melodies steeped in the reverence for sacred ground and a lament for the disconnect wrought by modernity.
Delve deep and you shall find Echoes of the Ancient Land, a heartfelt tribute to Scotland’s timeless landscapes and their profound ancestral connections. Through The Sylvan Embrace, SAOR imparts a harmonious sanctuary, a sylvan retreat where solace is found, and spirits are soothed. With Rebirth, the cycle is complete, weaving an intricate spell of transformation and new dawns.
The band’s odyssey upon the stage is nothing less than transcendental, as audiences bear witness to the heart of their aural fables brought vividly to life. These live performances stand as sacred rituals, bridging the veil between epochs, inviting all to partake in the shared legacy of the Scottish Highlands.
In Amidst the Ruins, the warriors of SAOR cast a clarion call to awaken from the lethargy of modern existence, to reclaim the essence of a heritage laid asunder. From the vibrant resonance of ancient battles to the hushed despair of Glencoe’s betrayed souls, every note spills forth like blood of the fallen seeping into the heathered earth.
As we stand on the cusp of this new era, Amidst the Ruins, the latest chronicle unfolds. SAOR‘s watchful eye turns to the horizon, the whispering woods, the twilight skies, and the sleeping stones bearing seers’ dreams, evoking the indomitable spirit of the realm. In their hands, the past is resurrected; its tales to be retold for those who would heed the call—SAOR, remain the ceaseless bards of Caledonia unbroken.
Line-up:
Andy Marshall – All Composition, Writing & Instrumentation
Guest Musicians:
Ella Zlotos – Female Vocals, Tin Whistles, Low Whistles, Uilleann Pipes
Carlos Vivas – Drums
Jo Quail – Cello & FX on “The Sylvan Embrace”
Àngela Moya Serrat – Violin on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth” Miguel Izquierdo – Viola on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth”
Samuel C. Ledesma – Cello on “Amidst the Ruins”, “Echoes of the Ancient Land” & “Rebirth
Follow Saor