Saor
Amidst the Ruins


4.5
superb

Review

by Ryan P STAFF
February 24th, 2025 | 167 replies


Release Date: 02/07/2025 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Amidst the ruins, the battle rages on....

Andy Marshall is an unstoppable force of nature. For over a decade, Andy has been releasing some of the most epic and transcendental black metal out there under the Saor moniker (previously Arsaidh). Saor’s music is epic without being cheesy. Every album he has released, with the exception of the more streamlined Origins, has taken the very essence of black metal and molded it so finely with traditional Scottish folk music to great effect. Amidst the Ruins is Saor’s 6th album and Andy has shown no signs of letting up.

Saor’s music always gives the listener an underlying sense of triumph even when the music pushes how extreme the boundaries of black metal can be. Every single riff is like a thunderous roar of Scottish soldiers ready to run head first into war. The title track is a gargantuan song full of blasphemous riffage and flurry of blasts and fills to paint a picture of carnage in the Scottish hills upon which battle is taking place. But the talent Andy has always had is reigning that madness in and combining it with Celtic folk instruments to make each song sound like its own individual journey through the story he is creating. The vocals are shouts of pain and suffering but also triumph and redemption. Flutes will whisk you away into the clouds away from the madness that occured on the battlefield.

Every waking moment of Amidst the Ruins is part of the overall picture of the album. The cover art depicts a Gandalf type figure looking over a large mountainside and that really is the sound the album gives off. A vast mountaintop with miles and miles of land beneath and god knows what lies beyond them. Every riff and every tribal drum beat has a purpose to it. This isn’t just a musical album, it is a journey into that Scottish battlefield, into the mountains and into the danger that lies beneath. The riffs pour upon you like a rainstorm only for you to be comforted by what can only be described as a Celtic bombarding of flutes, bagpipes and harps.

Saor is one of the best bands in the black metal genre at accurately depicting the feeling of Middle Age battles and the corresponding comedown of those battles. The black metal parts are intense and grimey while the softer folk parts are soothing and comforting. Nobody can do it better than Andy and he is SO BACK with Amdist the Ruins!



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user ratings (131)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Hawks
Staff Reviewer
February 24th 2025


114993 Comments

Album Rating: 4.7

Amazing amazing album. Hope I did it justice. Needed a review bad.

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
February 24th 2025


12950 Comments


Hell yeah, glad this has a thread now. Hype review Hawks.

Edit: fixed

Shamus248
Contributing Reviewer
February 24th 2025


1320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

nice review buddy. i picked this out of your recent ratings at random the other day and holy fuck it slams



i always get good recs from you m/

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
February 24th 2025


114993 Comments

Album Rating: 4.7

Thanks bros! Editing now Scuro thought I fixed that lol.

Beardog
February 24th 2025


6476 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

His last few records bored me to bits, I hope this is better. Have to check I guess.



Also, fun review!

Scheumke
February 24th 2025


2871 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

@Beardog, Origins yes, but Forgotten Paths bored you? Then I don't think you'll enjoy this because it feels like a spiritual successor to that one. Big jump up in quality from Origins if you ask me. Great album!

Beardog
February 24th 2025


6476 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Perhaps I just wasn't really in the mood for it. Doesn't hurt to revisit it, but I'll just start with this one. Was a big fan of the first two (Arsaidh included) records, afterwards the production got very iffy on Guardians and I got disconnected from the band during the follow-ups I suppose.

Beardog
February 24th 2025


6476 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

OK track 1 slays

Ectier
February 24th 2025


4572 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

In love with Echoes of the Ancient land

Ectier
February 24th 2025


4572 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Nice review tho Hawks, you lemon stealing whore

Muzz79
February 24th 2025


3934 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

If I’m being honest it was Origins that made me click with Saor. Great album. This is even better

Beardog
February 24th 2025


6476 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

He changed up his vocal style no? He used to only do lower, death metal gurgle type vocals with quite annoying reverb always added. This sounds a lot cleaner. Production is also nicely tight, fits the record well.



Gonna discog run this guy, it has been too long. Gonna check the remix/masters too.

frozencarl
February 24th 2025


2033 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

this didnt grab me like Forgotten Paths. maybe itll grow on me

BallsToTheWall
February 24th 2025


52578 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Bumped for both Brother Hawks and Saor’s greatness.

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
February 24th 2025


114993 Comments

Album Rating: 4.7

Love all of you!! Muzz thats good to hear make sure you jam all the previous albums too. :]

nash1311
February 24th 2025


10542 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

“ If I’m being honest it was Origins that made me click with Saor. Great album” [2]

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
February 24th 2025


114993 Comments

Album Rating: 4.7

Wow that surprises me tbh. Its a good thing though!

nash1311
February 24th 2025


10542 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I can’t even really describe why either. But origins felt like immersive to me somehow whereas the earlier works are great but don’t grab me as heavily. Don’t know if it’s the production or what

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
February 24th 2025


114993 Comments

Album Rating: 4.7

Hmmm interesting take. I respect it though.

Motiv3
February 24th 2025


9351 Comments


Pos'd. Album is brilliant m/



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