Mastodawn

Neue Konzertreview online: Teil 2 unserer Berichterstattung zum #Skaldenfest 2025 mit den #Metal-Acts #DISILLUSION aus Leipzig, #SYLVAINE aus Norwegen und den Lokalmatadoren DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT in der Würzburger Posthalle http://bit.ly/3YzgvqD

https://www.rockstage-riot-rheinmain.de/skaldenfest-2025-2.html

SKALDENFEST 2025, Teil 2: DISILLUSION, SYLVAINE, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT | rockstage-riot-rheinmain.de

Ayreonaut Dec 21

Gestern war das #Skaldenfest in der immer noch lebenden Posthalle in #Würzburg, das musikalisch den dringend benötigten Ausgleich zur Tags zuvor überlebten betrieblichen Weihnachtsfeier darstellte.

Ein super Billing u.a mit #Disillusion, #CountlessSkies, #DerWegEinerFreiheit und meinem Überraschungshighlight: #Sylvaine. Sie hat mich mit ihrer Band und den dargebotenen #blackgaze Soundwänden durchdrungen von ihrem kathartischen Heulen echt in den Bann gezogen. Völlig unerwartet grandios.

Folk Metal ist eigentlich nicht meine Baustelle, aber #Ūkanose aus Lithauen hatten so viel Spaß auf der Bühne, dass man sich der Freude eigentlich nicht entziehen konnte.

TacTac Oct 11

Soirée "post" avec Clem, Brume et #Sylvaine à la MJC Picaud.
#postmetal #postrock

Angry Metal Guy Sep 22, 2025

Æl-Fierlen – All Is Far Away Review

By Killjoy

Like a specter emerging from the mist, Æl-Fierlen is a brand new post-black metal act that materialized in Southern England in 2024. Their name comes from an Anglo-Saxon phrase meaning “all is far away,” making their debut something of an eponymous record. This phrase resonates with me because, despite living so close to many wonderful outdoor locations, I don’t make nearly as much time as I ought to experience them. As if beckoning to me, Æl-Fierlen sums up their sound with the simple declaration, “We are what the woods sounds like.” If you long to become lost in mystic marvels, come take a walk through the metaphorical trees.

Just as a forest has both light and dark spots, so does the music of Æl-Fierlen. In this way, they sound very much like a sister group of Helga, weaving elegant post-rock together with strands of black metal. There is also a discernible folk tinge akin to cousin groups Kalandra and Suldusk. Æl-Fierlen mainly sticks to the brighter style of Kalandra, like a well-lit clearing near the outskirts. But sometimes the compositions dare to venture into darker Suldusk territory with ominous whispers and guitar strumming that erupt into blast beats and shrieks without warning. What these three related groups have in common is a captivating female lead vocalist, and Æl-Fierlen is similarly rooted in Stephanie Moffatt’s enchanting voice.

A lot hinges on Moffatt’s vocals and she comes through in a big way. Her singing has an otherworldly, spectral quality, yet is also warm and inviting. Then, in the final verse of “To Sleep Eternal,” she shifts to a higher octave which heightens the drama for a flourishing finish. However, much like Sylvaine, she is not confined to ethereal tones, adopting a piercing bite when the occasion calls for it. “Eðe”1 is the prime example of her masterful mixture of chilling rasps and guttural growls, and it also happens to be the song with the most black metal influence. Her coarse whispers cast a menacing shadow over “Pulrose,” just enough for an underscoring effect without being overused. All in all, Moffatt’s versatility is one of Æl-Fierlen’s most important assets.

Examined holistically, though, All Is Far Away seems a little thin in both sound and content. This is partly because the instrumental side often takes a stripped-back form, likely to accommodate the vocals. The other band members do have their moments to shine; I particularly enjoy it when Rob Melville’s guitar tremolos intertwine with drummer Ginger’s knotted double bass drum rhythms in the back half of “Ællmiht.” It’s just that these moments aren’t as pronounced or developed as I’d prefer. This might not have been much of an issue if there were a bit more to chew on. Clocking in at 33 minutes across only four tracks, All Is Far Away is barely longer than an EP. To Æl-Fierlen’s credit, even though most of the songs are in the 8-11 minute range, they flow silkily and hardly feel their length. One more such song would have been perfect.

Æl-Fierlen has a keen sense of grace and beauty. If, like me, you find it hard to set aside time to be physically present in nature, All Is Far Away offers a charming aural jaunt through the woods. Stephanie Moffatt’s delightful and multifaceted voice perfectly suits the evocative atmosphere. Each of the four tracks has its own distinct character, one leading into the next like a gently flowing brook. All Is Far Away is a cohesive and convincing first effort from a nascent group, albeit a tad on the lean side. While this may be more of a foundational work, I look forward to hearing what Æl-Fierlen builds atop it in the future.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: ael-fierlen.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/AElFierlen
Releases Worldwide: September 19th, 2025

#2025 #30 #AllIsFarAway #ÆlFierlen #BlackMetal #BritishMetal #FolkMetal #Helga #Kalandra #PostRock #Review #Reviews #SelfRelease #Sep25 #Suldusk #Sylvaine