Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)

This is the fourth album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.

Since appearing out of nowhere with the wonderful 18° Below the Horizon in 2021, the artist behind Starer has been busy. We’ve had two subsequent full lengths, (2022’s The What It Is to Be and 2023’s Wind, Breeze, or Breath), and a plethora of other smaller releases. he’s now back with the 49-minute Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness, and it’s a cracking record.

Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness is an album of modern black metal, one that incorporates melody, atmospheric depth, and symphonic layers. If you like music by bands such as Aara, Mare Cognitum, Mesarthim, Midnight Odyssey, Panopticon, Paysage d’Hiver, Spectral Lore, and Vorga, then make sure Starer are on your radar.

As soon as the first song starts – I Cry Your Mother’s Blood – it’s immediately clear that the artist behind Starer has lost none of his skill. This is striking, impactful stuff. Of course, it’s not just the first song; the entire record is a high quality foray into the realm of contemporary black metal art.

Within this simplistic description lie songs that have strikingly impressive power. This is music that drips with emotion, while still carrying a sharp blackened bite that’s powerful. The songs are well-crafted, and incorporate different ideas and creative expressions into their mood-based assault. Every track boasts thoughtful touches, melodic influences, or stylistic hooks that damn near insist you stop what you’re doing and just pay attention. To pick just a couple of examples of many; how about the swirling, majestic keyboards on Immortality of Writers? Phenomenal. Or maybe the soaring clean singing on absorbing closer Lie Around My Neck? Epic. It’s elements like these that elevate the music, and it was already starting from a pretty elevated position.

This may be Starer’s most immediate release, but it is one that still benefits from the substance and longevity that come from a mixture of skilled songwriting and a keen understanding of atmosphere and feeling. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness. It’s quite possibly the artist’s best work so far, and that’s saying something.

How this band isn’t more well-known/bigger/whatever is beyond me. Starer’s music is consistently better than most, and the artist really knows what he’s doing with the style. Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness is a black metal record rich in atmosphere, aggression, and potent melody.

Essential listening.