Arð - Untouched by Fire (2024)Release ID: 51838
Arð is the solo doom metal project of Winterfylleth's keyboard player Mark Deeks with contributions from two or three guests, including Atavist drummer Callum Cox behind the kit. In similar vein to Winterfylleth, Arð is thematically linked with Old English history and folklore, in particular the history of the old kingdom of Northumbria, the region of England from which Deeks hails. The band's 2022 debut, Take Up My Bones, related the tale of the journey to find a new resting place for the remains of early english christian saint Cuthbert after the sack of Lindisfarne, with this latest offering focussing on the warrior king Oswald whose conquests laid the foundation for the formation of the Kingdom of Northumbria.
Musically, Untouched by Fire very much picks up where the debut left off, with a version of doom metal that Deeks himself has labelled "monastic doom". This manifests itself as a particularly melodic and atmospheric version of the genre featuring layered vocals that give the impression of monastic choral singing with Wolcensman mainman and former Winterfylleth guitarist Dan Capp providing backing for Deeks. Synths are used extensively, somewhat unsurprisingly given Deeks' day job, draping the riffs with a blanket of wistful atmospherics, redolent with nostalgia for an age long-passed. A pronounced level of introspective spirituality is added by the inclusion of several gentle passages variously using acoustic guitar, piano and cello, which is provided by guest Robina Huy who has previously worked with german symphonic metallers Empyrium. These serene moments, coupled with the chant-like vocals and swelling synths actually provide a positive, almost spiritually uplifting, listening experience.
The tempo is generally pretty slow and whilst not quite as sluggish as you would find in funeral doom, it definitely swims in similar waters and the overall vibe often hints at the approach to funeral doom practiced by several modern acolytes of the sub-genre such as fellow Winterfylleth member Chris Naughton's Atavist. Overall, if you are looking for something that departs from the pack and whose uplifting nostalgia provides a refreshingly different experience from the usual crushing heaviness associated with doom metal, then I would strongly recommend you lend Untouched by Fire your ear.
