Saille “Eldritch” Reviewed

Well, here i am once again to talk about Saille, the symphonic black metal musicians are back to give us nightmares as it seems. After the release of their, still fresh, second album “Ritu”, inspired in H.P. Lovecraft and ancient cultures (more precisely by death rites in ancient cultures) which gave me a great pleasure reviewing, the band embarked on their first tour in January 2013, with Transylvanian black metal legends Negura Bunget. Followed by more gigs in Belgium, the Netherlands and performances on several festivals like AMF (with Napalm Death), Vlamrock (with Exhumed, Belphegor and Rotting Christ) and Metal Méan (with Marduck and Dying Fetus). In September Saille suported the British band Winterfylleth on three UK shows. The band’s last performance for 2013 took place in Denmark for a headlining position on the ‘Black Winter Fest’ in Copenhagen.

“Eldritch” (adj. Weird, sinistre, unearthly or ghostly) is Saille’s most recente work. It contains nine songs with a total of fifty-five minutes in which they integrated their favourite Horror literature. Both recorded and mixed by Klas Blomgren known for his work with Svart, the alter ego of Draug (Shining). “Eldritch” will be presented in Belgium on a release show with Winterfylleth and again on Eindhoven Metal Meeting in The Netherlands.

To put it simple i think that “Eldritch” is another Saille’s awesome melodic black metal album. It’s very similar with “Ritu” in terms of content, i.e., it has the same literary influences, it’s lyrically based on horror classics. Besides, in terms of sound, the band keeps their main influences – the epicness of bands such as Tartaros, Limbonic Art and Keep of Kalessin. Don’t get me wrong, “Eldritch” isn’t repetitive or boring, quite the contrary. The band succeed in focusing their musical spectrum making it less atmospheric but much more extensive with a huge epicness to it – for instance when Dries plays the grand piano on the song “Cold War” or when Reinier plays the pianola on the song “Emerald”. Also the band managed to create a forceful soundscape when it comes to the guitars. As the band itself says “the guitars form the main epic base for the new Saille’s songs”. You can confirm it by listening the riffs and solos of songs such as “Aklo” and “The Great God Pan”. I really like the fact that this album sounds much more old school than “Ritu”. It seems to me that “Eldritch” keeps the black metal more ingrained despite the symphonic fusion. To wrap it up i think that it’s good to remember that Saille isn’t going to reinvent the wheel. So, for those who expect something out of the box maybe this is not for you. But if you are a big fan of the gender i really advise you to take a look or rather a listen.

One melee with the words, ideas and its paradoxes... albuns that are news, the reviews at "HeavyHardMetalmania.net", always with its watermark,  Pedro Ribeiro, with love for beer... sorry, music from an early age, he studied piano and singing from 7 to 14 years,  then, devoted himself to the study of the guitar for 5 years. "The wisdom is found in the extremes, all extreme Metal here!"

The artwork was handled by Colin Marks for Rain Song Design, Check out below.

01 - Emerald

02 - Walpurgis

03 - The Great God Pan

04 - Aklo

05 - Cold War

06 - Eater of Worlds

07 - Red Death

08 - Dagon

09 - Carcosa

10 November 2014 on facebook.code666 | code666.net | facebook.saille | saille.be

SAILLE: Official 'Tephra' Live Video Released

"Tephra" is the official new live video from Belgian melodic black metallers SAILLE. The track comes off the band's debut album, "Irreversible Decay", which was released in March 2011 on Code666 records.

The footage was recorded on Saturday August 17th 2013 at the Metal Méan Festival in Belgium and featuresSarah Vlerick on violin. Other artists on the line-up included DYING FETUS, MARDUK, ANAAL NATHRAKH, DECREPIT BIRTH and many more.

The live video for "Tephra" can now be seen below:

The band's sophomore album entitled "Ritu" was released on January 18th of 2013 via Code666 Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Irreversible Decay" was produced and mixed by Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll (1349, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN). Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz. Saille: "Ritu" Titanic Symphony review.

SAILLE is playing these fests in the near future:

29/11/13 Black Winter Fest @ Beta, Copenhagen

12/04/14 Tongeren Metal Fest @ de VELINX, Tongeren

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SAILLE: Official 'Blood Libel' Video Released

"Blood Libel" is the new official video from Belgian melodic black metallers SAILLE. Please watch it below. The video was directed by Nicolas Daenens, who previously worked with the band on the "Plaigh Allais" video two years earlier.

The video was shot in the region known as "Meetjesland" in Belgium, both in the woods and in an abandoned church.

A synopsis of the "Blood Libel" by SAILLE frontman Dennie Grondelaers :

The video of "Blood Libel" is a somewhat liberal interpretation of the track on our latest album. It tells the story of William of Norwich, a young kid from the 12th century (°1132 - †1144) that was found murdered in cold blood.

A murder for which the Jews were falsely accused. 

"Blood Libel" is also the opening track for SAILLE's second album, “Ritu”, which was released January 18th, 2013 on Code666 Records. This sophomore album to 2011's "Irreversible Decay" was produced and mixed by Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll (1349, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN). Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz.

"Making of Blood Libel" pictures.

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SAILLE: Performing Video "Tephra "

A video for Belgian melodic black metallers SAILLE peforming Tephra can be seen below. The track appears at the full-length of 2011 entitled "Irreversible Decay". The footage took place at Eindhoven Metal Meeting EMM (NL) 2012-12-15.

“Ritu”, the new album will be released on January  18, 2013 via Code666 Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Irreversible Decay" was produced and mixed by Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll (1349, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN). Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz.

Commented SAILLE frontman Dennie Grondelaers:  “Haunter of the Dark is based on two Lovecraft-stories. The first one, ‘The Haunter of the Dark’, covers the larger part of the lyrics. The second, ‘The Case of Charles Dexter Ward’, is the story from which the unpronounceable intro and intermezzo originate. It’s about a man who, while exploring a long abandoned church, unknowingly summons an avatar of a malign god named Nyarlathotep. The following days describe his futile attempts to escape the horrible faith he called upon himself.”

A bit of the review by Pedro Ribeiro at HeavyHardMetalmania.net

"That said the effort, and brilliance of Saille as well as the production of “Ritu” proved to be impeccable, almost flawless, which is a difficult accomplishment since their music contains so many sound layers. The final result is a creepy and gruesome atmosphere that will leave you with bristly hairs and that will make you enjoy every minute of this black symphony experience. I think that with a work of this caliber Saille opened a door that will allow them to reach further and give us more, much more…"

1 Blood Libel

2 Subcutaneous Terror

3 Fhtagn

4 Upon the Idol of Crona

5 Sati

6 A Titan's Sacrifice

7 Haunter of the Dark

8 Runaljod

9 Ritual Descent

Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz.

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Saille: "Ritu" Titanic Symphony

“Ritu” is the latest album of the Symphonic Black Metallers Saille and once more this powerful band managed to surprise with a really mature and professional nine track full-length which releases forty-six minutes of macabre environment.

They entered the Shumcot Studio in July 2012 to record this magnificent symphonic and multilayered composition which is not only presented by the sextet that composes the band musicians as well as an allied formation serving as a complete orchestra that brings out the musical ambiance of the work giving it a more real, melodic, atmospheric and vibrant touch, with different words “Ritu” receives a deeper sounding that gives it life without letting it fall into the boring and indifference.

Inspired by ancient cultures that cultivated ritual sacrifices and by adding to that inspiration the interests in H. P. Lovecraft and Cthulhu of the vocalist Dennie Grondelaer the result is nothing less than a severe and haunted sonority which reminds the weird fiction and the horror of the dark tales of Lovecraft but more than that this work explores a vast and eerie background proper from Saille´s influences of Tartaros, Limbonic Art and Keep of Kalessin soundscapes. In a certain way all the influences and inspirations that led to this album came together in harmony by sharing something in common… dark energy!

It´s impossible to a real metal connoisseur to not get caught by the sound, created by the explosion of so many instruments, as deep and wide as a primordial Dimmu Borgir or as a Keep of Kalessin. All the guest musicians invited to the breeding of this epic piece contributed to its making in a way that all the instruments complement each other resulting in an audible experience in which the union is the strength. 

Despite this fact it is also obvious the complexity and individuality of each musician and its instrument in the entire work. The keyboard played by the founder of Saille called Dries Gaerdelen invokes with perfection the obscure clime being one of the most important tools to the conjuration of the deep and tenebrous symphonies. The guitars played by Reinier Schenk and Jonathan Vanderwal never remain long equal which contributed to the music not becoming tedious, instead the songs are full of melting power chords, strong and catchy riffs with different effects, melodic solos filled with rage and speed, different tempos, different tunes, and this is why their music is so well varied and so unique. The battery played by Gert Monden is a monster, without a doubt a gain to “Ritu”. With Gert technique this symphonic orchestra turns into a malevolent titan unleashing nonstop crazy drumming that fits like a glove in the profound atmosphere giving extra texture to the music. The vocal work of Dennie Grondelaer is also very complex and his voice is highly concentrated; he uses different singing techniques and he also adds demonic effects to his voice in some phrases so that his voice fits the lyrics the best way possible. The bass played by Didier Vancampo was my only disappointment of this work being the only instrument overlaid, hidden many times in the middle of the chaos.

That said the effort, and brilliance of Saille as well as the production of “Ritu” proved to be impeccable, almost flawless, which is a difficult accomplishment since their music contains so many sound layers. The final result is a creepy and gruesome atmosphere that will leave you with bristly hairs and that will make you enjoy every minute of this black symphony experience. I think that with a work of this caliber Saille opened a door that will allow them to reach further and give us more, much more…

One melee with the words, ideas and its paradoxes... albuns that are news, the reviews at "HeavyHardMetalmania.net", always with its watermark,  Pedro Ribeiro, with love for beer... sorry, music from an early age, he studied piano and singing from 7 to 14 years,  then, devoted himself to the study of the guitar for 5 years. "The wisdom is found in the extremes, all extreme Metal here!"

1 Blood Libel

2 Subcutaneous Terror

3 Fhtagn

4 Upon the Idol of Crona

5 Sati

6 A Titan's Sacrifice

7 Haunter of the Dark

8 Runaljod

9 Ritual Descent

The official lyric video for "Haunter Of The Dark", can be seen below. 

“Ritu” will be released on January  18, 2013 via Aural Music Code666 Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Irreversible Decay" was produced and mixed by Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll (1349, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN).

Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz.

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SAILLE: Official 'Haunter Of The Dark’ Lyric Video Released

The official lyric video for "Haunter Of The Dark", a new song from Belgian melodic black metallers SAILLE, can be seen below. The track comes from the band’s second album, “Ritu”, which will be released on January  18, 2013 via Code666 Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Irreversible Decay" was produced and mixed byReinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll (1349, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN). Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz.

Commented SAILLE frontman Dennie Grondelaers:  “Haunter of the Dark is based on two Lovecraft-stories. The first one, ‘The Haunter of the Dark’, covers the larger part of the lyrics. The second, ‘The Case of Charles Dexter Ward’, is the story from which the unpronounceable intro and intermezzo originate. It’s about a man who, while exploring a long abandoned church, unknowingly summons an avatar of a malign god named Nyarlathotep. The following days describe his futile attempts to escape the horrible faith he called upon himself.”

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