Saidan - Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist (2026)^{Release ID: 69285}

It is hard for me to remember the last time I had anticipation for a black metal album. Part of the reason for that is newer acts have been boring it up with many of the same tired trends in modern black metal that have left a sour mark on the genre for years. I've certainly had records surprise me over the past year and a half, but the joy of expectations (and having them met) is a feat seldom felt. That's where Saidan comes in.

Coming into my radar in 2024 with Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity they left a noticeable mark after a year that was depraved of decent black metal. The combination of black metal with j-rock, with divergences into punk and thrash, it made for an uplifting release that was packed to the brim with riffs, melodic motifs and solid production. This time around, Saidan have moved away from the indie's and are signed with Avantgarde Music. With the transition comes their longest album to date, but also their most diverse and passionate.

And once again, Saidan nailed it. In fact I might even call this their best. The main riffing in the guitar is grandiose as it goes back and forth between soaring melodic leads and devastating chugging rhythms. The bass is prominent most of the time and gives the low end of the mix some weight and makes tracks like "Razorblade Temptation" and "Kara No Bara" unbelievable forward momentum. I love how the percussion is performed here; the black metal blast beats are strong and precise, but the switchbacks to the punk skank beats, while the guitars continue the same riffing as before, helps grow each tune to tremendous heights. The vocals are ferocious and relentless, while still leaving the listener with enough room to breathe and reflect.

The riffing on Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist is in top form. The recurring motifs on "Ethereal Blood", "Her Lips Pressed Against a Coffin Nail" and "Kara No Bara" are some of the best I've heard in a while. The slower transitional periods are a wonderful change of pace on a normally blistering album. The interludes between "Stained Glass Sin/Fang Driller" and "Beat to Death" are stunning, however they give the impression that they belong to the overall song structure as well.

As a whole album, Fangdriller does nearly everything right as it flows between different song styles. It is still a black metal album, so variation can feel limited at times, however the revolving key changes prevent the album from becoming too derivative. And each melodic lead has just enough variation from the songs around it to give each one a fighting chance to stand up and be remembered. In summary, Fangdriller is the kind of black metal album that will knock you back with its intensity and determination, but will keep you wanting to come back for more with a impressive run of killer melodies and punchy riffs.

Best Songs: Razorblade Temptation, Immersed by Eternity's Blade, Kara No Bara, Her Lips Pressed Against a Coffin Nail, Ethereal Blood, Beat to Death

For Fans Of: Svalbard, Stormlord, Deafheaven