LIVE REVIEW: Saor @ The Underworld, London

The UK black metal scene is a vibrant ecosystem, from dedicated events like Fortress Festival to a crop of top tier bands. Since 2013, Scotland’s SAOR have grown to become one of our island’s heavyweights, thanks to a gorgeous expansive soundscape, rich in sound and the natural landscapes and history of Scotland. Helmed by Andy Marshall, the band’s live presence has come on leaps and bounds since those first outings at Blackwood Gathering and North of the Wall more than a decade ago, with numerous albums along the way. On the back of last year’s stellar Amidst The Ruins, the clan marches south to the capital and Camden’s The Underworld in a night of British black metal brilliance.

Not too long after doors, Manchester’s OAKENTHRONE take to the stage with a venue that is very much still filling up, but the band instantly impress with a killer display of atmospheric black meal. Fusing doomier undertones with their blackened bite, there’s a lot to like here as compositions unfold from sombre reflective passages that carry plenty of weight through to blistering blast beats and thundering riffs. The likes of Litany of Proper Death and Communion are monoliths, allowing the full breadth of the band’s sound to hit the mark and leave a lasting impression. When you hail from a city that has long produced killer black metal, from WINTERFYLLETH through to WODE, the pressure is on, but OAKENTHRONE deliver a performance that poises them nicely to capitalise on the momentum in a scene that is continuously thriving. A band to watch for sure.

Rating: 8/10

CISTVAEN have been bubbling under the surface of the UK black metal scene for some time now. For a decade, the Devon-based band have crept in the deep dark corners of their South West homestead, with only the last handful of years seeing appearances across the UK. Very much a word-of-mouth proposition, as main support to tonight’s headliners and an excellent opener, CISTVAEN emerge and instantly leave jaws gaping as they dispatch a set of utter excellence. Riding high on 2024’s cult favourite debut, At Light’s Demise, CISTVAEN twist and contort as they unfold a vast musical landscape that is highly immersive. Cessation Of Hope twists and turns from a barrage of blastbeats and pierced screams from Guy Taylor – whose genuine adoration for their reception in London shown across his beaming face – to a passage of shimmering atmospherics washes which builds respite before a truly emphatic conclusion. It’s an accomplished, refined and highly evocative performance from a band whose stock is about to grow exponentially judging from the thunderous applause upon Time the Mournful‘s conclusion.

Rating: 9/10

By the time SAOR take to the stage, The Underworld is suitably packed with punters eagerly awaiting tonight’s headliners. Since growing from a studio project, Marshall has worked with a myriad of live musicians, but with the added benefit of having a stable live lineup for several years now, their impact is utterly exhilarating. Amidst The Ruins, the title track from the band’s latest album, begins the set and its a perfect opener. Folk-laden instrumentation dances and weaves inbetween rolling blastbeats, while Marshall‘s low growls flow organically with the soundscape. As the band unfold the track’s near 13 minute run-time, emotions are pulled along as sweeping passages encourage a sea of heads to bang emphatically along. It’s a terrific opener.

From there, we’re treated to an hour of folk-laden black metal at its absolute best. Echoes Of The Ancient Land is a white-knuckled, adrenaline-pumping experience as the band erupt into a flurry of duelling riffs and thundering percussion, before rolling into gorgeous folk-laden instrumentation and enchanting vocals from Ella Zlotos, whose contributions act such a unique and immersive linchpin to the SAOR live sound. The Sylvan Embrace is clear evidence of this and its rendition in London sends shivers down the spine. A deep and evocative sombre passage, the way in which Zlotos‘ woodwind instrumentation and vocals, particularly when she harmonises with Marshall, is one of the highlights in a set that rarely breaks the immersion.

The beauty of black metal is the way in which the genre can embrace and interwove so effectively with traditional folk. And SAOR are one of the best in the business. From start to finish, Marshall and his bandmates create and maintain an incredibly immersive live experience, one that twists and turns and erupts a myriad of emotions. It’s a set of stunning quality, particularly given the band’s enormous sound and the intimate confines of The Underworld, and one that reflects Marshall‘s love letter to his homeland. Simply Outstanding.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from C Wilkinson Media here:

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