Switzerland’s Aara return with their sixth full-length album and marks the end of their Triade trio of releases.  I reviewed the last one in the series, Triade III: Nyx, in 2023 and Eiger, continues forth with the same stable lineup, as their prior albums.

Boasting a very cold and depressing album cover ( “Eiger” is conceptually focused on the 3967-metre mountain of the same name in the Bernese Alps. Since 1935, at least 64 climbers have died attempting to conquer the Eiger’s sheer, ice-covered north face which has earned it the nickname of ‘Mordwand‘ (‘murder wall‘). The album specifically examines an attempt to climb the Mordwand in July 1936 which ended in tragedy, as four young mountaineers succumbed to treacherous conditions and disappeared, presumed caught in an avalanche.), Eiger is  8 songs in 55 minutes, which while still is Aara, conjures up some of their earlier, colder releases, namely their debut So fallen alle Tempel in 2019.

At over nine minutes, the opener, “Die das wilde Wetter fängt” is the longest song and rips along nicely with monstrous blasting and if you’re not a fan of the higher pitched black metal type of vocals, Aara will do nothing to change your mind on that.  For me I have grown accustomed to their sound and style so it fits.  The part at the 4.25 section thumps hard!!  Great rhythm section with this slower paced moment.  It is excellent and has a very strong and heavy feel to it, before some classic Aara atmospherics come in later on with the acoustics.  The thumping beats come in some more with some excellent drum work.  Those black metal melodies are a thing of beauty.  Harmonious, cold, yet emotive.

“Felsensang” has a nice brooding opening which is quite doomy as well.  There is a sadness played with these acoustic moments which are interspersed with the metal.  The light drumming begins to build up for the brutality that ensues as the song thrusts forward into a killer blast.  The vocals are harsh and match the music.  How do black metal singers, who go for those raspy highs, not throw out their voices???  Anyway, the song continues to blast forward with incredible guitar melodies and I love how the song abruptly slows down around the 2.40 mark, then speeds back up.  Aara knows how to do tempo shifts but makes them impactful.  Another one at the 3.17 mark, goes right into an atmospheric acoustic moment, right after the ferocious speeds prior.  This part has a classical flair and those damn guitar melodies right after…I mean Aara may write the best black metal guitar melodies out there folks!!  The moving and emotive riffs are impressive.  Towards the end of the song, with all the blasting metal madness to hear the acoustic guitar over the blast beat, it is a new one for me, and it fits rather nicely.

Turn down those headphones because “Der Wahnsinn dort im Abgrund” has no atmospheric build-up.  Goes straight for the gulliver with monstrous blasting, right out of the starting gates.  And I mean this moment goes on for a long time.  Over a minute, before there are some drum rolls and a classic galloping metal beat takes us back to a time of yore.  The double bass drums over this section are terrific.  This opening segment is one of the most intense Aara experiences, I might add.  The song slows down and ushers in atmospherics and then right back into the intensity.  The slower portion, towards the end with that main guitar riff, is excellent.  Heavy stuff.

Eiger is excellently produced and Aara are writing machines.  I do not think they play live/tour, so it gives them a chance to pretty much release an album every year.  However, there is no drop off in quality in writing, ability, song structure, or production.  The albums never seem rushed and that is a testament to a band focused on their musical style and as musicians.  Highly commendable.  This is yet another stellar release from Aara, one of the leaders in the current black metal scene!!

 

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