Sâver – From Ember and Rust (Review)

This is the second album from Norwegian post-metal band Sâver.

Sâver made a good impression on me with their 2021 split with Psychonaut, so this new release was a great opportunity to see what they are capable of with a full album to play with.

None of the songs on From Ember and Rust reach the same mammoth proportions as the one on their split though. Indeed, with a duration of 43 minutes, From Ember and Rust is only a little over twice the length of that single split track alone, and is a much more concise version of the Sâver sound.

From Ember and Rust offers a journey into post-metal heaviness, progressive sludge depth, doom workouts, and textured post-rock detail. It’s frequently harsh and crushing; Sâver aren’t interested in making it easy for the listener. However, it’s still accessible enough for fans of bands such as Isis, Neurosis, and Cult of Luna.

Sâver are heavy, and the songs deliver massive riff after massive riff. These are combined and parcelled together with more nuanced elements to make for songs that are capable of forceful destruction, yet also great atmosphere. Synths layer a decent amount of the material here, providing a cosmic feel to the music that interacts well with the muscular riffs and brutal screams. There’s a balancing act between brutality and beauty on From Ember and Rust, one that allows the band to smash the listener in the face with pure distorted might, while also allowing them to move freely in delicately drawn environments.

I like this a great deal. It’s a very enjoyable, and highly recommended record, that simply grows more potent over time.