Sluagh – II (Review)

This is the debut album from UK black metal band Sluagh.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Ageless Summoning, Barshasketh, and Dvne, (and many others), II contains 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal, played with old-school authenticity and heart. It’s raw and unashamedly ancient, driven by a love of the traditional black metal style as seen through a contemporary Scottish-focused lens.

II is rich in esoteric atmospheres and classic majestic might. The keyboards are both epic and understated, granting the songs the power of the former, while the latter prevents the rest of the music from becoming swamped by them. It’s an emotively melodic record, which feeds into the atmospheric aspect, while also existing on its own. There is aggression here, but this exists to service the atmosphere first and foremost.

Sluagh imbue their music with a keen sense of mystical exploratory worldbuilding. This suffuses the record deeply, along with a certain uncanny eeriness that’s compelling. There are some special moments on this record, all of which ultimately come down to the mastery of warped atmosphere that Sluagh display again and again.

Impressive stuff. II reeks of the 90s in style and character, while never descending into hero worship or plagiarism. It’s a record to grow into over time, and I can’t help but wonder, had I discovered it earlier and had more time to bury myself in it, would it have placed on my year end list?

Very highly recommended. An underground gem.