One visit to the Alps wasn’t enough. Aara take over the month of December with an album of the month and an outstanding end to the year, right next to Ungfell’s De Ghörnt.
The Swiss black metal outfit Aara is back with their 6th discharge, releasing the record almost 2 years after the previous full-length, “Triade III: Nyx“. Instead of centering on extreme changes, the band has sharpened their dense and energetic sound, reliably making strides in their songwriting and generation with each collection. Taking after the conclusion of the “Triade” set of three, they’ve moved to another concept-driven record, this time centered on a nerve-racking climb up the North Face of the “Eiger“. This type of concept is something that I deeply appreciate within the metal community, since having a story or hints of conceptual work really creates a more solid and polished release. In spite of not knowing German, the album’s snowy subjects of lost hope, segregation, and battle are all around impactful and Aara passes on them capably through both the music and the reminiscent cover craftsmanship.
Straight from the get-go, the first track, titled “Die das wilde Wetter fängt” sets the tone with an ambient-inspired introduction to the high mountain, followed by really well-mixed drone guitars and riffs with the focus placed on tremolo playing. The female vocalist “Fluss’s” anguished screams also really fit well with this concept as opposed to the previous triad of full-length records, in my opinion. This instant intensity that Aara brings to the table keeps reminding me of a band with similar styles of playing, and that is Gaerea. As the album progresses, tracks like “Felsensang” and “Todesbiwak” offer a melancholic take to the concept of the mighty peak. The interplay of aggression and melancholy paints a vivid picture of the struggle against nature’s extremes, and, well, snow. The production enhances this narrative in a way that is not overly atmospheric, striking a fine balance between clarity and grit. On another note, let me give some immense praise to the drumming on this record, because “J.” really put the effort in to create original sections that might possibly be inspired by Mgla or Gaerea, in my opinion. The highlight for drums probably belongs to the second track “Senkrechte Welten“, especially in the melodic and energetic section nearing the end.
I really respect the fact that this band has overseen the preservation of such a tireless pace in their discography without ever taking a break, all while conveying atmospheric and well-produced records. It’s an uncommon accomplishment within the black metal scene, where numerous projects and bands either burn out or compromise on quality when following to such a thorough discharge plan. By all means, this album so far stands as my favorite from their 6 releases, and it will definitely be on repeat throughout this winter.
Aara “Eiger” was released on December 6th via Debemur Morti.
Track Listing :
01. Die das wilde Wetter fängt
02. Senkrechte Welten
03. Felsensang
04. Todesbiwak
05. Der Wahnsinn dort im Abgrund
06. Zurück zur roten Fluh
07. Grausig ist der Blick
08. Alptraum
I have a passion for discovering and exploring Metal influenced music and artists, with a particular interest in rare and underground releases. My reviews and ratings will primarily cover music released from the genre of Metal, providing fresh perspectives and insights on the latest and most intriguing entries in the genre.