Aara – Eiger (Review)

This is the sixth album from Swiss black metal band Aara.

A new Aara album is always a cause for celebration. I’ve been a big fan of everything they’ve put out so far, (check out Triade I: Eos, Triade II: Hemera, and Triade III: Nyx), so expectations are high for Eiger.

With a duration of 55 minutes Eiger is Aara’s longest album to date, and across its eight well-formed tracks the band showcase once again why they are so well-regarded by so many. Eiger is an album of atmospheric black metal to properly immerse yourself in. It’s a high quality record from start to finish, drowning the listener in black metal that’s aggressive, mood-rich, and thoroughly compelling.

The songs are layered with a strong melodic depth that works in concert with potent frosted distortion. The combination of resplendent shading and blackened darkness works exceptionally well, driven by songwriting that successfully balances the twin needs of atmosphere and hostility. Aara’s approach is ultimately one of absorbing worldbuilding, but that doesn’t mean that they neglect the cold malevolent bite of black metal’s darkest heart either – far from it.

Eiger is imbued with a majestic potency that speaks of the powerful impact of grand natural vistas, while also boasting a gritty worldliness born from frozen landscapes that are harsh and lethal. The songs display a firm grasp of both ethereal grandeur and scathing intensity; sometimes separate, frequently entwined, they captivate with evocative imagery that’s conjured with impressive ease.

Eiger is an album of expressive, affecting, and vicious black metal from a band at the height of their powers. Aara truly are a talented bunch, with an array of inventive riffs, striking compositional ideas, tasteful acoustic guitar enhancements, and those utterly deadly piercing vocals that I love so much. Honestly, this is just such a good album you simply need to spend the time listening to it and getting to know its textured highs and lows.

Essential listening.