What is it with Canada lately? I keep getting interesting promos from that place. We all know it’s nothing new that the land of maple syrup has phenomenal Metal, but lately, I’ve noticed a substantial diversification. You just have to check this or this to get what I mean. Now SIG:AR:TYR is back with Citadel of Stars, and I must admit I’m kind of excited. I’ve been a fan since Northern came out and always wondered why the act never released anything new. Did it die? Or worse, did it find happiness? No and no! So, we have a new album to examine!
Citadel is more atmospheric than its predecessor. It’s an album that takes its time to start, but once it does, it’s full of action. I’d say you can divide it into two parts: “Awaiting the Last Dawn,” “Beyond the Start Unknown,” and “The Blood that Came Before,” which create the densest part of the album, and the rest where you’ll find more speed and transitions. Don’t worry, you’ll get overwhelmed by ancestral vibes through thick and thin. Citadel is consistent with its themes and, despite such evident pace changes between and within tracks, it’s remarkably cohesive in the experience it offers.
Great, but what I always loved about Northern were the sick guitar solos; they’re usually so absent in Pagan bonfire music. I’m happy to report Citadel is full of epic solos that aren’t either childish aggression from your inner 12-year-old or mindless “wanking” from your inner unemployed 28-year-old. They’re in perfect balance, and that’s even clearer when you listen to the gorgeous “Who Will Guide Me Now.” It’s almost a Folk Metal homage to Death’s “Voice of the Soul.” They contrast beautifully with the overall foggy and dense atmosphere permeating the whole album. That brings me to production and other things you should have in mind before starting your own bonfire in the woods (please don’t! It’s fire season in most places).
It’s the same issues I usually have with Atmospheric Black Metal; some sections of the long tracks could be shorter. Repeating the same riff 20 times in a row kills it, no matter how good it is. Then there’s the production. I do like the cloudy feeling it brings, but in the faster sections, things do start to sound muddy to the point that it becomes hard to listen to. I even thought there was something wrong with my headphones for a moment since I kept hearing this “white” noise in the background. It turns out it was part of the atmosphere.
It doesn’t matter. This release is a worthy follow-up to Northern, and that makes me happy enough to go outside and… enjoy the sun like a filthy tourist. That’s because it reminds me that the dark times are always coming back and that light only shines for a brief moment before the grey returns to swallow it all. Anyway, who wants some ice cream?
Label: Hammerheart Records
Release date: May 31, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=sig%3Aar%3Atyr
Country: Canada
Score: a fire that burns through the night, or 4.0/5.0 for the nerds!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 