Artist: Ald Weald
Country: Unknown
Label: Forlorn Majesty Records
Formats: Cassette Tape
Year: 2026
This is yet another Black Metal band that is trying hard to be as obscure as possible. Although I do acknowledge that a bit of anonymity or overall mystery can enhance the actual experience, but sometimes it comes across as to try-hard. This, to me, is one of such examples. Whether this is a duo or a solo project and its geographical origin is unknown or deliberately shrouded in mist. It could be that Steven Santos (Kāla, ex-Call To Prayer) is part of Ald Weald, but the band itself denies that claim. The line-up is supposed to consist of two people, but there’s always only one in the photos, so perhaps that’s just a diversionary tactic. To me, such an overly fanatical attitude comes across as a bit forced, and you’d almost think it’s meant to distract from the music. Are they worried it might not be up to scratch?
The answer to that question might well be yes. Although ‘I’ is definitely not the worst ever demo or even the worst I’ve heard in a while, but overall it is rather uneventful. I’ve seen people compare it to bands like Bone Awl and Vetala and I do see where that is coming from. Those bands share a bit of that stripped-down sort of Black Metal with an overall Punk attitude. But that is basically where the comparison ends. Ald Weald, I suppose that means something like ‘Old World’ by the way, never reaches the same musical level or intensity of both Bone Awl and Vetala.
‘I’ consists out of eight tracks, together clocking in well over half an hour, but it mainly feels like it is the same song recorded eight times. I am absolutely not averse to a bit of monotony or repetitiveness, but usually that is used to build a certain tension or it evokes a bit of a trance-like feeling. None of that is the case here, this seems to come from a limited musical capacity or a lack of understanding of the music in general.
It also seems that the people (or person) in the band are the same from the label, Forlorn Majesty Records. At least it is the first release on that imprint and tries to keep the same anonymity. Either way… ‘I’ is not a very promising start for the band as the result of this effort is some lowbrow Black Metal that is not likely to entertain anyone.
