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Saor - Aura



8.4 | 286 votes |
Release date: 6 June 2014
Style: Atmospheric black metal, Folk metal

Owners:

213 have it
31 want it


01. Children Of The Mist
02. Aura
03. The Awakening
04. Farewell
05. Pillars Of The Earth

Top 20 albums of 2014: 10

Additional info
Recorded, mixed and produced by Martyn Moffat.
Drums, bodhrán and strings recorded by Spenser Morris.
Mastered by Spenser Morris.

The word "authentic" comes to mind when listening to Saor's sophomore album, which is written and performed by Andy Marshall for the most part, aside from some guest accompaniment. This is an atmospheric black metal album which convincingly incorporates Celtic instrumentation and vocals, all composed in five fairly lengthy songs. It's creative efforts like this which keep the folk metal genre well and truly alive.

Listen to Saor on bandcamp.

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Comments

Comments: 30   [ 2 ignored ]   Visited by: 949 users
09.04.2014 - 15:26
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Children Of The Mist:


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12.06.2014 - 00:25
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Pretty fuckin solid follow up to Roots. Quite enjoying this
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16.06.2014 - 04:55
Rating: 9
Rulatore

This album is awesome
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17.06.2014 - 15:19
Rating: 8
Schnabeltier 24

A beautiful album.
And the songwriting has really improved since the first album !
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Hey there, tiny wench !
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17.06.2014 - 18:33
Rating: 8
Ag Fox
Angel No More
Wow... it's been quite a few years since I've heard anything fresh from the folk metal scene!
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loves 小巫
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17.06.2014 - 22:06
oshgar

Really enjoyed this, a perfect blend of black metal and Celtic Folk, not too much of either.
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05.07.2014 - 08:43
Rating: 10
Masonics

Holy moley what is this?! A gift send from the scottish landscape itself! Breathtaking is all i have to say. My fav black-folk combo to date. Love that tin whistle, the production is good, the gruff and clean vocals are sick, the drumming is fast paced and creative, the guitar is thick but warm, and a dash of scottish heritage on top... Has to be a contender for AOTY surely.

Fav song: Farewell
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06.07.2014 - 13:22
IronAngel

Could be better if the mix wasn't so irritating. Vocals are way too far in the back, and something (perhaps about the drum-guitar dynamics?) makes it seem as if the volume fluctuates at times for no reason.
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10.07.2014 - 17:30
Lethrokai

Written by IronAngel on 06.07.2014 at 13:22

Could be better if the mix wasn't so irritating. Vocals are way too far in the back, and something (perhaps about the drum-guitar dynamics?) makes it seem as if the volume fluctuates at times for no reason.

With you on this one. I'm personally fine with where vocals are in the mix, but when the drumming's got so many cymbals crashing about, it muddies the production to have it so far in the foreground.
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Sometimes you just need to roll the dice and look away.
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15.07.2014 - 22:37
Deon101

I wish the quality of the album was a little better
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31.08.2014 - 12:04
Rating: 8
Hazelnut Nero

Incredible album - a gift to all of us from scotland .
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24.11.2014 - 21:35
Rating: 8
CyberSymphony
Ollie
There's a rawness to this sound which put off a little when listening, but otherwise a fantastic atmospheric folk album. Those mysterious folk passages in the music are
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25.11.2014 - 00:36
Rating: 7
Czerny Reiter

Written by Lethrokai on 10.07.2014 at 17:30

With you on this one. I'm personally fine with where vocals are in the mix, but when the drumming's got so many cymbals crashing about, it muddies the production to have it so far in the foreground.


This. I really like the album, but I haven't been able to give it a round rating due to a certain overwhelming sound wall during the more intense moments that I feel gets in the way of enjoying it more and detracts from the whole experience.
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26.11.2014 - 06:49
no one
Account deleted
This is a very nice album, love the Scottish landscape atmosphere feeling it gives
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10.12.2014 - 19:48
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
I hope this album is nominated to MS awards
Here was also great atmo folkey sound , good one, good band
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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10.12.2014 - 22:38
Rating: 7
Erik M.

Pretty good, but the sound does get rather repetitive (mainly the folk elements). I guess I'm more of a folk black fan (Windir for instance) rather than a black folk fan (such as this).
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11.12.2014 - 04:20
Rating: 7
Korah

Nice album, but the Folk side is too present for me, and the production is average.
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Don't cry for my English
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24.12.2014 - 06:30
Joe Zombie

Great music, but the production not so much. Normally I'm not a big fan of folk but this album is so grandiose and has a certain "warmth" to it. I enjoyed it enough to listen to it all in one sitting which is a feat itself.
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01.01.2015 - 21:00
Rating: 8
Sword_Chant

Only just checked this out, great album, unique sound. For me this is one of those albums where the not so good production actually adds to the album.
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08.01.2015 - 19:52
AnGina--
Dark Phoenix
Found this "accidentally" while browsing on bandcamp and my first impression was: wow. I'm not into folk at all, but the folk/celtic insertions are so delicate, that I really fancy it alltogether. Some grandiose, orchestral parts even remind of soundtrack movies, especially LOTR. Exquisite album, loving it.
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You think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it. Molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was a man. But it was nothing to me but blinding.
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02.02.2015 - 18:35
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
I am in agreement with the complaints about the choice in vocal production. Fix that and I would love this. The compositions just ooze Scottish heritage.
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Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches.
Listen to the Trench Talk podcast.
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06.02.2015 - 10:56
Rating: 9
Himedal

Anyone interested in folk metal should listen to this album. fucking awesome.
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What goes by is life to be taken
The doom calls upon the forsaken
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10.02.2015 - 20:53
Rating: 8
Reaper_Redeemer

Nice stuff. For sure album of the year for the folk genre.
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25.02.2015 - 16:17
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by Erik M. on at 06:35

I guess I'm more of a folk black fan (Windir for instance) rather than a black folk fan (such as this).



Then you've chosen the wrong department.

Have you heard Soar before? No? Then you should go and check out the debut and see how they setup the sound of Soar. Totally different from what you "loved". The work of Soar here is fantastic and once again delivered top-notch record. The only flaws I found here is mixing and some shitty drum tech fuck ups(said by IronAngel too).
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26.02.2015 - 12:51
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by Guest on 26.02.2015 at 01:50

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 25.02.2015 at 16:17

Then you've chosen the wrong department.

Have you heard Soar before? No? Then you should go and check out the debut and see how they setup the sound of Soar. Totally different from what you "loved". The work of Soar here is fantastic and once again delivered top-notch record. The only flaws I found here is mixing and some shitty drum tech fuck ups(said by IronAngel too).


Saor*! I wouldn't have corrected you if you only said it once but you didn't so I had to.


Thank you.

Damn autocorrect.
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26.02.2015 - 20:43
Rating: 7
Erik M.

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 25.02.2015 at 16:17

Then you've chosen the wrong department.

Have you heard Soar before? No? Then you should go and check out the debut and see how they setup the sound of Soar. Totally different from what you "loved". The work of Soar here is fantastic and once again delivered top-notch record. The only flaws I found here is mixing and some shitty drum tech fuck ups(said by IronAngel too).


Wrong department? I was simply stating my preference when it comes to black/folk and folk/black bands. Then again, I recently starting listening to Moonsorrow and so far I like that band a lot (and they're black/folk, not folk/black).

If this album is a good representation of Saor then I'm not sure whether I'll check out their previous stuff.

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 26.02.2015 at 12:51

Damn autocorrect.


Oh come on, are you seriously blaming autocorrect for a mistake made 3 times?
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26.02.2015 - 20:56
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Yes yes and yes. Everytime I typed "Saor" it changes to "Soar" or "Said".
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28.03.2015 - 13:34
me<3mertl

Sounds really good.I like how they combine atmospheric black with folk, reminds me of Wolves In The Throne Room.
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29.12.2015 - 21:53
Rating: 10
Zyk

The quality of songwriting, vocal performance, drums, and overall sound have improved from Roots. The songs are a little shorter but they have more to offer, so I found it to be much more enjoyable even though I liked every song on Roots and only four on this one.
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22.10.2016 - 01:06
Rating: 9
katacrack

Rating: 9 Excellent sound movie braveheart
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