Through the mist of the Highlands, Scottish metallers Cnoc An Tursa return with their third full-length album, “A Cry For The Slain”. This is a release fully inspired by, and dedicated to, the myths, folklore and history of Scotland, armed with black metal intensity, folk melody and a heavy, melancholic atmosphere!
The album was released this April through Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings, contains eight tracks, and I can already say that it has easily become one of my favorite releases of the year! The production is definitely one of the strong elements of the record, with a sound that is clear but not sterile, allowing the album to “breathe” while still keeping all its darkness and power alive. The drums hit hard, the riffs come sharp and rhythmic, while the vocals are imposing, full of intensity, giving the material that feeling of primal rage it needs.
Musically, I am truly excited by the aftertaste this album leaves. Yes, at its core we are clearly talking about black metal, but Cnoc An Tursa do not stop there. Throughout the album, folk-infused melodies take the listener on a great extreme metal journey, through mythical battles, frozen landscapes and forgotten legends. The melodicism that flows through their music carries an epic character and an almost cinematic feeling, without taking anything away from the dark intensity and savagery of the album.
As I recently wrote in another album presentation, 2026 may generally be going from bad to worse, but musically it keeps throwing diamonds at us when we least expect it. Cnoc An Tursa carve their own path in the world of extreme metal, proudly carrying the tradition, stories and myths of their homeland. “A Cry For The Slain” is an outstanding extreme metal offering that does not simply deserve your attention — skipping it would be a huge mistake!
And because we are not here to act like know-it-alls just to show off, Metal Revolt always remains honest with its readers: personally, I did not knew Cnoc An Tursa before this album. However after this listening experience, one thing is certain … they have gained a new fan!
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