ALBUM REVIEW: A Distant Fire – Alda

Hailing from the Pacific North-West, ALDA are among the many bands from the region producing exceptional atmospheric black metal. Though they are often overshadowed by their contemporaries in WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, the quartet have released three full-lengths to quiet acclaim, each of which develop and expand that distinctly Cascadian style. Their second album :Tahoma: is widely considered a cornerstone of the scene, while subsequent Passage demonstrated their burgeoning musical maturity, incorporating more acoustic passages and a greater sense of dynamics. ALDA have wandered nomadically from one independent record label to the next, and now find themselves releasing their fourth full-length A Distant Fire on Eisenwald Records.

You have only to glance at the artwork to appreciate that A Distant Fire is not going to be your typical black metal fare. The bands that swap out tawdry satanism for more earthly themes usually align themselves with ‘darkness’ in some sense – whether it be nature’s vengeance on destructive mankind, or mourning the loss of the wild – but ALDA here present something more (dare we say it?) wholesome. A Distant Fire inverts the necrotic monochrome orthodoxy both visually and musically, with a sound that is both vigorous and vibrant; full of life and colour.

From the very start, it is clear that A Distant Fire is something altogether different from :Tahoma: and Passage. There were moments of brightness and hope to be found there, but this album exudes joyousness in practically every measure. The melodies come thick and fast, with a light touch that occasionally spills over into outright folkishness. It’s certainly bold, and a lesson to be learned for those groups so preoccupied with atmosphere that they forget to write any melodies.

The production choices for A Distant Fire make complete sense on paper, but leave a little lacking in practice. This is a very warm sound indeed, invoking that much-desired analogue warmth with a definite concentration on the mids, but that approach has perhaps been taken a little too far. Those bright melodies don’t quite ‘pop’ out of the muddy-middle, and a little more space in the lower end could open up what we imagine to be a truly expansive sound. It’s a traditional aesthetic, and a very satisfying listen all the same.

Riff-focussed Stonebreaker and mid-paced Drawn Astray are fantastic advance singles, but ALDA have certainly saved the best for last with the title track. Opening with a rhapsodic duet (reminiscent of AERIAL RUIN balladry) the song quickly bursts into life, and develops a dramatic sense of finality over it’s quarter-hour length, interspersed with pace-breaking interludes. It is simply beautiful, and leaves quite an impression in its wake.

ALDA have managed to offer something different with each album, and A Distant Fire is their boldest and most characterful work to date. This is an atmospheric black metal album which paints a beautiful landscape in quick, delicate strokes; resplendent in hope and light. The warmth of the sound is a little excessive, but guarantees a traditional feel which is both satisfying and comfortable. This is a remarkable album which deserves to be heard.

Rating: 8/10

A Distant Fire is set for release on October 8th via Eisenwald Records.

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