In the windswept grandeur of Scotland’s towering peaks and mist-laden lochs, the mythic resonances of Saor‘s sound rise once again. Today, the band are sharing a masterful playthrough for the lead single and title track off their new album Amidst the Ruins.
Watch the full band playthrough of “Amidst the Ruins”.
https://youtu.be/wugVW7uwQsU
Amidst the Ruins draws inspiration from a bygone era. On their fifth album, Saor merges black metal’s raw intensity with Celtic folk’s heartfelt melodies. The title track weaves together melodic guitars, heavy bass lines and blast beats. As echoes of forgotten paths and crumbling relics of history unfold before your eyes, this song serves as a solemn reminder of a heritage lost amidst the modern world’s clamor.
More praise for Saor
“It’s just so epic. Saor is habitually great” – Angry Metal Guy
“Andy Marshall is the poster child for harnessing the random beauty of nature and threading it together with the limitless opportunity atmospheric folk/black metal presents” – Ghost Cult
“When it comes to atmospheric black metal, Saor needs no introduction” – Everything is Noise
“…critical listening for anyone who is a fan of black metal, folk metal or music in general” – Nine Circles
Saor will embark on a journey across the UK and Europe next year. The band will share their majestic new serenades with fans far and wide during the Amidst the Ruins 2025 tour.
Get tickets
https://www.saormusic.com/tour-dates
Amidst the Ruins 2025 UK & EU Tour
February 8, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand
February 13, 2025 – Bristol, UK – The Exchange
February 14, 2025 – Birmingham, UK – The Flapper
February 15, 2025 – York, UK – Fulford Arms
March 28, 2025 – Arnhem, NL – Willemeen
March 29, 2025 – Den Haag, NL – Paard
March 30, 2025 – Kassel, DE – Goldgrube
April 17, 2025 – Weinheim, DE – Café Central
April 18, 2025 – Graz, AT – Explosiv
April 19, 2025 – Munchen, DE – Dark Easter Metal Meeting
April 20, 2025 – Aarburg, CH – Musigburg
April 21, 2025 – Praha, CZ – Futurum Music Bar
April 22, 2025 – Poznan, PL – Klub 2progi
April 23, 2025 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser
April 24, 2025 – Lichtenfels, DE – Ragnarök Festival
April 25, 2025 – Bochum, DE – Matrix
April 26, 2025 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
April 27, 2025 – Lyon, FR – Le Marché Gare
May 16, 2025 – Mirow, DE – Dat Unlandfier
Amidst the Ruins is out February 7th, 2025 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/saoramidsttheruins
Guided by the spirit of Caledonia, Saor’s latest opus captures the stark contrast between the echoes of a once-great heritage and the distractions of our modern lives. “Amidst the Ruins” draws listeners into a reverent reflection of Scotland’s sacred past, where the very ground holds stories of strength and identity that’s now overshadowed by fleeting, shallow pursuits.
More praise for Saor
“It’s just so epic. Saor is habitually great” – Angry Metal Guy
“Andy Marshall is the poster child for harnessing the random beauty of nature and threading it together with the limitless opportunity atmospheric folk/black metal presents” – Ghost Cult
“When it comes to atmospheric black metal, Saor needs no introduction” – Everything is Noise
“…critical listening for anyone who is a fan of black metal, folk metal or music in general” – Nine Circles
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
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