Album Review: Cnoc An Tursa - A Cry For The Slain
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
After an almost 10 year absence, Cnoc and Tursa are ready to emerge from the Scottish wilderness and present to us their first release in a decade with “A Cry Of The Slain”. With shows lined up that include the inaugural Tynebound Festival in Newcastle, this gives us a glimpse of what they’ve been up to in the studio. Will this be a heroic return, though, is the question? Let’s find out…
Immediate first impressions; the band’s sound is built upon a raw and aggressive foundation, steering more towards post-hardcore than black metal at times. This is perhaps best personified by Alan’s lead vocals, primitive and raw in every sense of the word. Perhaps deviating from the high pitch shrieks you’d typically expect from the genre. Though this results in superior story telling and a narrative that would otherwise be lost in a sea of inaudible screams. I mean, listen to one of the lead singles of the album ‘Alba In My Heart’ and try not to feel the passion and pride in his voice as he bellows out the infectious chorus! An instantly memorable climax, and just one example of the choruses acting at the melodic focal point and amongst salient feature in each song.
Though Cnoc an Tursa don’t just rely on the choruses for a quick soundbite. No, throughout the album you’ll be introduced to a vast array of opulent melodies and aesthetically pleasing textures. This is achieved via the more traditional deployment of lead guitars blazing majestically above the solid rhythmic foundations. Here, the expected tremolo picked patterns played at break speed and with dissonant unsettling chromatic patterns are abandoned. Instead, the guitars lean into more Gaelic inspired melodies and patterns, more upbeat and positive, sitting in the major scales. Again, not what the black metal genre necessarily dictates but provide a unique impetus that give Cnoc an Tursa a clear identity within this crowded sub-genre. A similar approach to the likes of Saor, offering a more symphonic and epic feel to their music, though Cnoc an Tursa tend to be less expansive and prefer the route one approach rather than their Scottish counterparts. The clever use of synths and background keys provide a more epic undertone and feel to the music, adding drama and intrigue when it’s needed and offers a welcome boost in energy when deployed.
Yes, there’s certainly a lot to admire from “A Cry Of The Slain”. One of the more unique offerings to the world of black metal in 2026 and will satiate any fans of the genre looking for something extra and more indulgent than what you’d expect from this realm of metal.
