Aara unveil album details and first song

In follow up to 2023’s “Triade III: Nyx” – the climatic instalment of the ‘Melmoth‘ trilogy based on Charles Robert Maturin’s classic Gothic novel – AARA now break away from the literary and apply their stunning musicality to real-world events.

“Eiger” is conceptually focused on the 3967 metre mountain of the same name in the Bernese Alps. Since 1935, at least 64 climbers have died attempting to conquer the Eiger’s sheer, ice-covered north face which has earned it the nickname of ‘Mordwand‘ (‘murder wall‘). The album specifically examines an attempt to climb the Mordwand in July 1936 which ended in tragedy, as four young mountaineers succumbed to treacherous conditions and disappeared, presumed caught in an avalanche.

Tracklist:

01. Die das wilde Wetter fängt
02. Senkrechte Welten
03. Felsensang
04. Todesbiwak
05. Der Wahnsinn dort im Abgrund
06. Zurück zur roten Fluh
07. Grausig ist der Blick
08. Alptraum

“Eiger” was composed between 2022 and 2023. The album intro was provided by Jonny Warren (MODERN RITES), with acoustic guitars recorded by Urizen. Drums were recorded by J at Chäuer Studios in Bern. Mixing and mastering were handled by Markus Stock (EMPYRIUM, THE VISION BLEAK) at Klangschmiede Studio E.

The cover artwork, as with the last three albums, was created by Swiss painter Michael Handt, with design courtesy of Yurii Kazarian/Into The Abyss Design.

Composer Berg shares insights into the concept behind “Eiger“:

“After the Melmoth trilogy, it was exciting to tackle something new, to delve into a different topic and imagine how to realise it musically. Since “Eiger“ tells a certain sequence of events and ‘Felsensang‘ is one of the first tracks, it was important to create a more relaxed mood that fits the setting and the narrative. So the song begins rather atypically for Black Metal, which was actually the first riff I wrote for “Eiger“, and is in general characterised by a hopeful optimism. In contrast to previous AARA releases, the “Eiger” album and thus also ‘Felsensang‘ is more strongly interspersed with calmer phases, which somewhat softens the constant emotional chaos of previous AARA releases and gives the individual moods more space.“

Listen to ‘Felsensang‘,  a first track from the upcoming album, below:

“Eiger” will be released on CD, vinyl and digital on December 6th. Pre-orders are available via the label’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.