Metalcatto
Usually, I wouldn’t even bother to check a remake or remaster, but Saor is a band I’ve long wondered about: what could they sound like if they had more budget? Not many projects get enough cash to do it all over again, which is why I wanted to check if Caledonia revived the classics or just butchered them harder than Disney. I’m careful today, but a man can dream.
It’s interesting, I must say that everything is objectively recorded and mixed better, at least when it comes to the engineering. All the tracks have reinterpretations, where certain elements or sections get enhanced. There’s less mud here and more musicianship, but there’s also less atmosphere. It feels less from the mountains and more from the tundra. It’s exciting to listen to Saor‘s most popular tracks produced the way they were imagined in the first place. Now we have two of each. The clarity is undeniable, but something intangible has been lost in the process.
The backup vocals and Folk arrangements are all much clearer, and one can really appreciate this, especially in the Aura tracks. Those are the ones that have benefited the most from the makeover. Yet the vocals have gone through some radical changes. Now they’re properly Black Metal shrieking, and honestly, I’m not sure I’m totally on board. Let me explain. Saor had old and rusty harsh vocals, but it was pretty unique. Now, though perfectly executed, the style is more standard. It’s not bad, just predictable. My second point is that the tracks from Guardians and Roots don’t feel as dramatically improved, and this is probably because the production value in those two is more decent from the start. Yet, if you hate that some Black Metal sounds like it was recorded in a humid basement, then Caledonia is what you’ve been dreaming of.
It was impossible not to trigger some of us with this release. The logical part of my brain says this is done better, like I’m getting grandma’s recipe with top ingredients instead of that disgusting spam from a can. But the sentimental part says those were the days, and I’ll never get to eat something as disgusting but unique ever again. That’s kind of how I feel with Caledonia: satisfied, but deeply conflicted. It’s a beautiful reimagining, but it’s also a reminder that sometimes the flaws are what make something special.
Label: Season Of Mist
Release date: November 6th, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/saorofficial
Country: UK (Scotland)
Score: 3.6/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 