OLD RUINS - Mount Arreat

We kick things off with 'Once There Was Light', where epic melodies emerge through surging, distorted guitar lines backed by subtle cymbal work and a steady bass foundation. The pace soon increases before a long, throaty scream announces the arrival of the vocals, aggressive and forceful but fitting remarkably well against the melodic backdrop. Clean vocals introduce a more desperate, pain-laden character, although they could benefit from sitting slightly further forward in the mix, as the instrumentation occasionally threatens to swallow them. Particularly effective is the highly melodic, almost narrative bridge, where some excellent guitar work makes the composition feel as though it is actively telling its story rather than simply accompanying one.

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'Gates Of Harrogath', on the other hand, begins on a considerably calmer note. Clean guitar lines establish an atmospheric foundation, surrounded by the quiet sound of wind and ominous textures lurking in the background. Once the dark vocals enter, however, that fragile calm quickly turns hostile. The guitar riffs develop a much more aggressive edge, while the bass pushes further into the foreground and adds noticeable weight beneath the growing intensity. As the song progresses, the individual elements become increasingly restless, gradually transforming the earlier restraint into something resembling controlled chaos without completely sacrificing the atmosphere established at the beginning.

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Another deeply atmospheric piece arrives with 'Uileloscadh Mor'. The opening seems to float almost like gentle waves, carried by delicate, piano-like tones before melodic drumming gradually enters the picture. From there, the composition shifts into heavier, doom-laden territory, where distorted yet forceful guitars create a surprisingly strong sense of forward momentum. The vocals move naturally alongside the melodic foundation, bringing enough aggression to give the song weight without disturbing its cohesive atmosphere. During the bridge, those tender piano-like notes return, briefly restoring the fragile calm of the opening. 

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The title track 'Mount Arreat' carries a deep sense of longing, as though reaching for something distant or already lost. Beautifully melancholic from its opening moments, that sadness continues to linger even as harder riffs, a thick bass line and melodic drumming gradually add further depth and weight. The commanding vocal delivery rises confidently above the instrumentation and gives the composition additional presence. If there is one minor criticism, it is that the track occasionally feels slightly long-winded, with certain passages lingering a little longer than necessary. Still, its underlying melancholy remains remarkably effective throughout.

'Lord of Destruction' feels like the musical build-up to an important boss fight in a video game. Epic melodies lead into heavy drumming and narrative-driven vocals, all embedded within a surging bass foundation. Then a villainous laugh emerges from the background, and suddenly the atmosphere turns considerably more sinister. The composition grows darker and more aggressive, the battle has begun. Yet amid all that tension, the bridge offers an unexpected emotional contrast with a beautifully melancholic guitar solo, briefly bringing sadness into the confrontation before the darkness takes hold once again.

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Our journey comes to an end with 'Tyaels Despair', and what a way to close it. The epic melodies continue, but this time OLD RUINS seem determined to bring everything that defines Mount Arreat together one final time. Hard-hitting riffs, throaty vocals, an excellent bass line and powerful drumming combine with the band's unmistakable video game influences, showing just how naturally they can turn those inspirations into passionate and skilfully crafted metal. Rather than feeling like a simple nod to Diablo, the storytelling has become part of the music itself, and 'Tyaels Despair' provides a fitting final chapter to the journey.

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With Mount Arreat, OLD RUINS prove that their connection to the world of Diablo goes far beyond lyrical inspiration. Epic melodies, melancholic atmosphere and aggressive blackened heaviness turn the album into a journey of its own, carried by strong musicianship and genuine passion. A few passages could be tighter, but when storytelling and music come together, Mount Arreat becomes remarkably immersive. A journey through Sanctuary well worth taking.

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SCORE 8.5/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY