Band:	Sgàile
Album:	Traverse The Bealach
Style:	Post-metal
Release date:	January 2024

01. Psalms To Shout At The Void
02. Lamentations By The Lochan
03. Ptarmigans Cry
04. Introspect
05. Silence
06. The Brocken Spectre
07. Entangled In The Light

Do you ever get that feeling of just packing your bag and setting off on a long hike, abandoning everything in reality behind you? Well, Sgàile's post-metal could well be the escape you're looking for.

Established back in 2018, Sgàile is a Scottish one-man post-metal project masterminded by Tony Dunn (Cnoc An Tursa, ex-Falloch). Back in the late 2010s, Tony Dunn put aside his commitments with other projects he was working with at the time, choosing to focus his attention towards a less blackened, and more post-metal approach, and thus began Sgàile. With Mike Lamb (Sojourner, Light Field Reverie) on board for mixing and mastering duties, Sgàile dropped full-length debut Ideals & Morality in 2021, which turned out to be a truly commendable and monumental effort.

With the bar now set high for Sgàile, Dunn now sets out on his latest endeavour in the form of the sophomore release Traverse The Bealach. Just as ambitious as the debut, this latest venture clocks in at an impressive hour in length, with three of its seven tracks exceeding the ten-minute mark. The theme of the album tells the story of a nomadic traveller in post-apocalyptic Scotland traveling northwards; along the way, he tries to figure out his fate whilst battling his inner demons along with the elements. The inspiration behind the story is based on the events of the pandemic and humanity's ongoing battle with climate change, and it is also inspired by Dunn's fascination with long distance hiking.

"Psalms To Shout At The Void", one of the aforementioned three songs longer than 10 minuts, opens the record; from the beautiful melancholic acoustic guitar work to the mesmerizing atmospheric synth work, this is an engaging tranquil opener, which only grows more interesting as it progresses. Along the way are evocative intertwining Gaelic-inspired folkish riffs, soaring leads, powerful rolling drumming, and passionate vocals (perhaps some of the most breathtaking vocals I've heard in metal recently), the style of which fits in perfectly with the instrumentation. The production and sound quality are at a high standard; each element, from the synths and instrumentation to the vocals, is mixed and mastered in an exemplary fashion by Mike Lamb.

As great of an opener as "Psalms To Shout At The Void" is, listeners are immediately met by the following track, "Lamentations By The Lochan", which is a clear standout track for me. With its memorable looping melancholic main riff, incredible vocal performance, and powerful rhythm section driven by pounding drumming and heavy bass, this is an uplifting, emotionally energizing track, brimming with passion, so much so that it could well shed a tear or two for certain listeners taken by its majestic Highland aura.

From here, Traverse The Bealach continues in fine form, from soft, gentle keyboard passages to heavy folkish riffs, and from beautifully constructed acoustic melodies to mesmerizing synth work; this album offers everything that the debut had and more. However, there is one more song that really stands out above all for me, and that is "Silence". This track, the album's longest at 12 minutes, is predominantly heavy, especially during the beginning stages of the track, but features an impressive build-up in the midsection that is a highlight moment of the entire album. The final third of the song is noticeably different, becoming softer as the rhythm and tempo change, with lighter guitar work and softer backing vocals accompanied by a beautifully constructed piano melody.

Sgàile mesmerizes audiences yet again with this second offering, perhaps even outperforming the debut, which is a task in itself. The album is so refreshing that there are times when you literally feel yourself breathing in the air and soaking up the atmosphere, as if you're trekking through the majestic Scottish Highlands taking in the elements first-hand yourself. But perhaps the most remarkable thing is the fact you wouldn't think this album's total running time is an hour long; it flows by as if only half that length. All in all, I believe Traverse The Bealach is an essential album for adding to a playlist if you're planning on taking a long hike; just don't forget to fully charge your music device, and equip yourself with a quality pair of headphones for the ultimate experience.