heavy-metal-darkness: Cnoc An Tursa |A Cry For The Slain |Apocalyptic Witchcraft

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Cnoc An Tursa |A Cry For The Slain |Apocalyptic Witchcraft

Release Date April 24^th, 2026

Format CD/Digital/Vinyl

Genre Black/Folk Metal

Country Scotland

Cnoc An Tursa bled into existence in Scotland, forging vicious black metal out of the brutal folklore of their homeland. Formed to channel the bloody historic battles and ancient myths of the highlands, the band established themselves as a towering force in the underground. Eight agonizingly long years of silence have passed since "The Forty Five", leaving fans screaming for a follow-up. Now, Alan Buchan, Rene McDonald Hill, and Bryan Hamilton return to the frontline. They unleash "A Cry For The Slain" through Apocalyptic Witchcraft, stepping back into the fray with intense aggression and massive traditional melodies. The excruciating wait comes to a brutal end.

"A Cry For The Slain" attacks with a furious storm of extreme metal and grand, mountainous harmonies. The guitars rip through the air, weaving sorrow and defiance into massive riffs. "Na Fir Ghorma" opens the door, unleashing the mourning banshees and chilling legends of "The Caoineag". Cnoc An Tursa delivers sweeping odes to winter goddesses and bloodthirsty entities, creating a vast landscape of sound. Massive solos and driving rhythms thunder across "Cailleach And The Guardians Of The Seven Stones" and "Baobhan Sith". You get dragged straight into the treacherous mountain passes of the Cairngorms.

"Alba In My Heart" drives a massive spike of allegiance into the ground. A raised fist of devotion to Scotland, the song unleashes roaring vocals and rolling, thunderous drums. "Am Fear Liath Mòr" drops immense, giant-stepping aggression right on your skull, while "Address To The Devil" spews dark, epic poetry. The guitars tumble down like freezing mountain streams, ripping through the speakers. The mastering by Jaime Gomez Arellano makes the audio absolutely massive. The sound smashes the ears with extreme force, ensuring the drums, riffs, and vocals crush everything in their path. The harrowing artwork by Olga Kann provides a fitting visual for the savage music inside.

This album stands as a towering monument of highland extreme metal. "A Cry For The Slain" delivers pure, unadulterated aggression fused with majestic sorrow. By the time "The Nine Maidens Of Dundee" closes the siege, Cnoc An Tursa prove they absolutely rule this domain. The riffs are deadly, the drums are merciless, and the vocals tear through the sky. A fierce, highly impressive return.

Score: 8.5