This is the debut album from UK blackgaze band Æl-Fierlen.
Æl-Fierlen play an evocative form of blackened Gothic metal, (for lack of a better term), that incorporates atmospheric black metal, doom, blackgaze, and folk into a compelling musical framework. Containing 34 minutes of music, All Is Far Away is an underground gem of an album.
The music is expressively crafted and well-rendered. Æl-Fierlen know their art and have a firm vision for it, and this is well-realised across four immersive songs.
How to describe this then? Okay – start by taking the dreamy, mood-focused, doomy feel of certain 90s bands, such as The Gathering, Theatre of Tragedy, Flowing Tears, Autumn, The Sins of Thy Beloved, etc. Then add to this a touch of the contemporary qualities of acts like Darkher, Messa , Myrkur, and Sylvaine, informing the music with doom, folk, and blackened perspectives. Finally, add in black metal elements of the atmospheric, folk, post-, and blackgaze varieties, (bands like Agalloch, Alcest, Saor, and Winterfylleth come to mind at times), coloured with shades of bright fragility and richly emotive presence. The end result is a well-rounded recipe for something quite tasty.
The singer’s vocals – so crucial in a band like this – are full of emotion and dark beauty. She has a strong voice that she uses very well across the four songs that grace All Is Far Away. Occasionally growls and screams are provided by the guitarist, but the lead singer is certainly the star of the show, (and also has a potent scream of her own). Importantly though, the music doesn’t play second fiddle to the singer’s voice. It’s well-written and executed, providing the listener with songs that combine atmosphere, emotion, and hooks, to good effect.
Æl-Fierlen seem to know what they’re doing with their material, and All Is Far Away offers a compelling listen. I’m sure this record would find many receptive fans out there in the wider metal world – the quality level on display is high enough – if only they had the right exposure. Let’s hope this happens for them, as All Is Far Away is quite the blackened Gothic metal treat.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 