n 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 shares their masterful playthrough for their newest single, Amidst the Ruins.
Amidst the Ruins draws inspiration from a bygone era, merging black metal’s raw intensity with Celtic folk’s heartfelt melodies. As echoes of forgotten paths and crumbling relics of history unfold before your eyes, this composition serves as a solemn reminder of heritage lost amidst the modern world’s clamor.
Watch as the band eloquently intertwines guitar melodies, basslines with a heavy backdrop of iconic blast beats on Amidst the Ruins: https://youtu.be/wugVW7uwQsU
Amidst the Ruins is out February 7th, 2025 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/saoramidsttheruins
SAOR will embark on a journey across lands, sharing their majestic serenades with fans far and wide. Mark your calendars for SAOR‘s Amidst the Ruins 2025 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
Tickets to any of these shows can be found on SAOR‘s website: https://www.saormusic.com/tour-dates
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
Live Line-up:
Andy Marshall – Vocals, Bass
Nicolas Bise – Guitar
Martin Rennie – Guitar
Ella Zlotos – Tin whistle, Low whistle, Uilleann pipes, Vocals
Carlos Vivas – Drums
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
Miguel Izquierdo – Viola on “Amidst the Ruins”
Recording:
Andy Marshall – Vocals, Guitars, Bass recorded at Fortriu Studios, Scotland
Nikolaus Jira – Female Vocals, Tin Whistles, Low Whistles and Uilleann Pipes recorded at NikolausRecordings Studio, Germany
Jose Garrido and Daniel Sabugal – Drums recorded at NewLife Studios, Spain
Mattias Eklund – Violin, Viola and Cello recorded at Farkosten Studios, Spain
Chris Fielding – Mixing and Guitar reamping at Penylan Studio, Wales
Tony Lindgren – Mastering at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden
Biography:
Saor
Edits by Sébastien Gamez
Cover Art:
Julian Bauer (@julianb_art)
Website: https://julianbauer.com/
Layout by Adrien Bousson
Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/saoramidsttheruins
Follow Saor:
Official Website: https://www.saormusic.com
Official Store: https://store.saormusic.com
Bandcamp: https://saor.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saorofficial
YouTube: https://youtube.com/saormusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saormusic
Bandsintown: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/4099241-saor
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rHMzJ1RKUMtid1K2QEYbr
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/saor/879243889
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/6768301
TIDAL:https://tidal.com/browse/artist/5653569
Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
2×12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
2×12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Crystal Clear & Black Marbled
2×12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Green, White & Black Marbled
2×12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Crystal Clear, Red & Blue Marbled