"All Is Far Away": Blackened Shoegaze From ÆL-FIERLAN Woven In A Misty Forest Journey
- Riley Edmett
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
There is something deeply mystical about ÆL-FIERLAN, newcomers to the blackened shoegaze realm. Layered guitars, ethereal vocals, sprawling soundscapes steeped in fantastical nature.
With their debut album, "All Is Far Away", the band pull the listener in, taking them through a slow, misty walk through a shrouded, enchanted forest.
Atmospheric guitars lead the way on "To Sleep Eternal", one of the leading singles off the album. Choir voices in the background blend with subtle blackened soundscapes, creating a track that ultimately feels more story than song, weaving through chapters and flowing effortlessly. Through it all, the comforting vocals of Stephanie Moffatt hang weightlessly, a hand reaching out to the listener.
Where there are blast beats, there is hopefulness. Such intense music so rarely elicits that emotion. It's eight minute runtime feels quaint, which is always a good sign with this genre.
Where "Pulrose" is jauntier, “Eðe” is more sombre, aggressive, pushing the band into darker territory. The former feels upbeat, and whilst coarser vocals show black metal tendencies, the band stay rooted in their folk technicalities, striking an effective balance in heaviness and emotion.
In comparison, the latter sees a full focus on atmospherics and a more traditional black metal sound. Dissonant notes, intense blast beats, bellowing, gravelly vocals - a lament of cries as one loses their way.
Despite their differences, storytelling remains the driving factor, pushing the tracks through respective sections. This continues to prevalent right up until closing track "Ællmiht", a 10 minute sprawling opus. Crunching leaves, gentle guitars, swooning vocals - comforting feelings that cascade into darkness, sharp whispers, fast, foreboding guitars.
As the final note rings - melodic lead guitar over arpeggiated chords - there is a feeling of resolution. The band took our hands, lead us through their forest, and we have emerged the other side, a reminder that there is, and always will be, comfort in darkness.
"All Is Far Away" is out NOW on streaming platforms
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