There is a tradition about Metal music that may be unnoticed by many metallers maybe because most of times it is so subtle that many may not notice it. I mean it is there, but it just goes. Metal music, as you all know, has many musical and non-musical traditions and it is my duty to bring them to you, my dear children of the night. It is the intros. I don’t know about other genres, but in Metal music intros are often so cool, so varied, and so creative. The first that comes to mind maube because it was the first I noticed is 1984’s Saxon “Crusader“ where the band recreates a full battle ground with all the possible sounds including horses and swords clanging. Just remarkable. “MDCCCXVI” does not have all the details, you know the devil is on the details, but its gentle mood prepared for a battle drumming kind of reminded me of “Crusader.” Interestingly, it works fine as a bridge to “Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death.” Unfortunately, and this is a problem of all digital recordings, there is a break when “Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death” commences.
There is no other word to explain the music in “Age of the Void” than subtle. Calm could be used as well, but to aply such other to Metal music sounds too wrong. But that is the feeling. Finesse would apply, but I guess it is not the case because the music here goes as smooth as possible for Metal music, if you know what I mean. The music in here reminds me a lot an unsung band called Saracen, which by the way, were one of the pioneers of the use of history into Metal music. That’s the feeling “Lost Amidst the Unfathomable Abyss“ passes the fan with its very well-planned structures. It seems to me planning is the thing Under Ruins did best here. The songs here sound so perfect in terms of songwriting and perfomance. The smooth way “Moonlit Requiem” evolves showcases a determined band in terms of songwriting. Maybe planning is the key to Under Ruins‘ music. Even the guitar leads sound to be very carefully planned note by note. Even though I am not a person of extreme planning I agree it is a way to achieve the best results from a band musically speaking. Another band that comes to mind as an influence with “Great Drowning of Men” would be Iced Earth from the “Dark Saga” era.
I do not have this information, but from everything I have heard here “Age of the Void” sounds as a concept album. That would explain all the planning in order to the lyrics fit the music, or, the other way around. The complex fitting of the songs also point to this direction. Or, “Age of the Void” may be an album with the same thematic with the songs connecting each other. That would also explain all the planning.
“Age of the Void” is a very interesting album. No doubt of that.
Under Ruins “Age of the Void” will be released on May 02nd via FHM Records.
Track Listing:
- MDCCCXVI
- Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death
- Lost Amidst the Unfathomable Abyss
- Moonlit Requiem
- Whispered Curses, Woe Unleashed
- Crimson Seas of Courage
- Great Drowning of Men
- Fanfares
Watch “Whispered Curses, Woe Unleashed” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!