Arð – Untouched by Fire (Review)

This is the second album from UK doom metal solo act Arð.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Arð last year, so the opportunity to bask in the luxurious doom majesty of this new album was irresistible. Brought to us by a member of Winterfylleth, Untouched by Fire is a richly rewarding 43-minute experience to get lost in.

Untouched by Fire is textured and immersive, offering a journey of rich atmospheric presence and absorbing depth. The songs are slow and unhurried, confident in their delivery, and hauntingly gorgeous in their execution. All of the component parts are seamlessly blended together, including emotive piano, exquisite leads, dignified organ, and affecting strings. It’s all tied together with accomplished songwriting.

The album’s most immediately striking feature is the sumptuous layered choral vocals, which are solemn and powerful. Despite the strength of the singing though, the rest of the music is not found lacking, and acts as more than just a vehicle for the vocals.

Untouched by Fire is a very strong album with a singular voice and vision. The tapestry it weaves is expressive and detailed, presenting grand vistas to the listener to explore at length. The artist behind Arð has crafted a masterpiece of magisterial doom metal, one that’s richly deserving of your time and attention.