Averaging an album per year since their 2018 formation, the latest expression from revered Swiss Atmospheric Black Metal band AARA shows no drop in quality, nor let-up in their perpetually questing sense of purpose. “Eiger” is inspired by a tragedy on the majestic 3967-meter peak in the Bernese Alps, and masterfully captures the band’s hallmark fusion of raw intensity and ethereal beauty.
The album is now officially released – listen to the eight epic tracks below via Bandcamp, on DMP’s YouTube channel and via all streaming platforms:
An organic and spacious production – courtesy of Markus Stock (EMPYRIUM, ALCEST) – allows the trademark elegiac, spirited leads and reverberant acoustic guitars of main-composer Berg to give increased emotional weight to a performance of on-the-edge savagery from vocalist/lyricist Fluss.
Fluss comments on the creation of the new album:
“We usually begin with a foundational idea, a rough direction, before the music takes shape. This initial inspiration guides Berg as he composes the individual pieces; sometimes, he already has a clear vision of which piece should capture a specific moment in a story. More often than not, though, I have creative freedom when writing the lyrics to shape the dramaturgy of a narrative across the different pieces. This was also the case with “Eiger“. It all started with an idea: Heinrich Harrer’s book The White Spider and an exploration of the early attempts to conquer the Eiger. Then came the music, followed by the lyrics, which in turn could reflect and adapt to the rhythm of the compositions.“
Fans and critics alike have praised the album for bringing this mountaineering tragedy vividly to life:
“This is utterly essential for atmospheric Black Metal fans!” (Blabbermouth)
““Eiger” is, without a doubt, the most accomplished work in AARA’s oeuvre to date, excelling on every level.” (Metal.de)
“The more I listen to “Eiger” the more I appreciate it as a singular tribute to a terrible moment in time.” (Last Rites)
“Eiger” is released on CD, vinyl and digital on December 6th. Specially designed merch will accompany the release. Orders are possible via DMP’s EU, US, and Bandcamp shops, bundle options are available.
Switzerland’s AARA was founded in 2018 by vocalist Fluss and multi-instrumentalist Berg to create art highly influenced by atmospheric Black Metal. Sporting an epic, classical feel, their sweeping compositions aim to take the listener through the darkest alleys of human existence.
Soon after releasing their debut record “So fallen alle Tempel” in early 2019, AARA joined forces with Debemur Morti Productions, releasing their mosaic EP “Anthropozän” that same year.
Barely a year after their debut, AARA unveiled a new full-length record in April of 2020. A conceptual look into Europe’s Age of Enlightenment, “En Ergô Einai” sees AARA take their accomplished sound to new heights of mature artistic expression. Opened with a haunting acoustic intro courtesy of Vindsval (BLUT AUS NORD), “En Ergô Einai” is a triumph of fluid melodic euphoria and classical elegance, setting an even higher watermark in a bright, young discography. The third album and beginning of a trilogy, namely “Triade I: Eos“, was released in March 2021. In this epic and dramatic new work of art, AARA are interpreting the Gothic novel “Melmoth The Wanderer” (1820) of Irish writer Charles Robert Maturin.
Venturing forth into the next chapters of Maturin‘s work, AARA crafted the second part of their trilogy, “Triade II: Hemera“. The six tracks of brutally melodic, top-tier Black Metal was released in May 2022. The third and final album of the Melmoth trilogy saw see the light of day on March 31st, 2023.
In follow up to 2023’s “Triade III: Nyx“, the band now breaks away from the literary and apply their stunning musicality to real-world events. AARA‘s new album, “Eiger“, will be released on December 6th.