:Tahoma:

I do not usually review albums, but when it is one as good as this, I feel the need to get my opinion out there in hopes more people will check it out. Alda is a Cascadian black metal band employing significant folk elements along with their intense black metal riffage. For anyone who is into what I call "hippie metal," like Wolves in the Throne Room, Panopticon, Falls of Rauros, etc. this will be right up your alley. So button up your flannels and comb your beards, here we go.

I'll start off by talking about some important aspects of the album as a whole before focusing on particular highlights. The production is a little rough around the edges, but it should be perfectly fine to any black metal fan. While the guitars almost seem a little muffled, every riff and note is still sufficiently clear and it gives the album a nice, earthy, DIY feel that is fitting of the band's style. The bass is audible and the vocals strike an ideal balance--neither too loud nor too quiet. The acoustic guitars are always very crisp and clear, and the clean vocals that sometimes accompany them have a nice, folky feel. They aren't obnoxiously crooning or operatic.

This album is interesting for the US atmospheric black metal scene. Not super ambient like WITTR or Fauna, not very post-rock like Falls of Rauros or Agalloch. I would actually compare Alda more to European bands like Winterfylleth or Drudkh. They are much more riff-focused while retaining some folk segments. However, the band still creates an immersive atmosphere. When listening to this album, I always picture myself being out in the mountains. Anyways, the riffs here are incredible. I find Alda's riffs are much more energized and melodic, more memorable, than their Cascadian counterparts, which tend to focus on ambiance. My favorite example is the riff that starts a little after the 4-minute mark of "In the Wake of an Iron Wind." In fact that is my favorite riff and possibly favorite song of all time. So I guess that is a good segue into the highlight tracks.

As you may have guessed, the opener "In the Wake of an Iron Wind" is my personal favorite. It has a beautiful folk intro and multiple amazing riffs. This song really showcases the band's composition ability.

Since there are only 5 tracks, I'll restrict myself to 2 highlights. My second one would be "Shadow of the Mountain." This is a beautiful acoustic folk track that breaks up the album following the first 3 songs, giving a little breather before the 14-minute closer. Although every track has some acoustic folk moments, this one fleshes out the band's acoustic ability into a fully-fledged folk song complete with an interesting ending featuring tribal chanting that provides a haunting yet beautiful moment of immersion and atmosphere.

In my eyes every moment on this album is a highlight; I can't recommend it enough. It has something for everyone, from fans of those earthy folk moments to those looking for intense and memorable riffs. Lay in your bed and close your eyes, the opening acoustic arpeggios will bring you out to a sunlit Cascadian forest. "Adrift" will bring you out to the Pacific coast and immerse you in the vastness of the ocean, and by "Shadow of the Mountain" you'll be back in the forest with a roaring fire as night falls. Get ready for an amazing journey.