ANCIENT SETTLERS have released their monumental debut album, Our Last Eclipse, out now through Crusader Records/Golden RobotRecords, available on CD and digital.
Mixed and mastered by Grammy award winning producer, Fredrik Nordström, Our Last Eclipse takes you from fast-paced, powerful melodic death metal to 80’s synth-wave, and even all the way to catchy post-metal riffs, all bound together by a nostalgic Gothenburg influence. Lyrically, it’s an invitation to walk alongside ANCIENT SETTLERS in their journey of facing the odds of leaving ones motherland for a new unknown soil.
Earlier this week, the band dropped the final album preview piece in the form of the stunning single and video, ‘Cerements’.
ANCIENT SETTLERS also delivered three other powerhouse singles in the lead up to their full-length gem; with ‘Library of Tears’ and ‘Cast in Gold’ both backed with animated Sci-Fi short film videos and ‘Into the Depths I Ride’, featuring a cracking live and behind the scenes video clip.
OUR LAST ECLIPSE TRACK LISTING
- Into the Depths I Ride
- Cast in Gold
- Our Last Eclipse
- Cerements
- Jotnar Magick
- Library of Tears
- Silent December
- Memories.
- The Black Rainbow
- Peregrination
ALBUM TRACK BY TRACK
‘Into the Depths I Ride’
A fast-paced track with a complex riff in the verse and a catchy chorus section in contrast. Very synthesizer-driven, powerful and melodic.
‘Cast in Gold’
This song has a nostalgic Gothenburg influence, with very melodic guitars, synths that took days to complete and a rich bridge with vocals and a string quartet.
‘Our Last Eclipse’
The title track; deeply guitar oriented, eminently cold and slow-paced, making the listener feel as though they’re watching stars collide in outer space in slow motion. Highly technical solo section between the synthesizer and guitars.
‘Cerements’
The lyrics on this track are very sentimental; compelling the sadness we all have felt for departed ones. An expressive and fast solo section invites the listener to feel the emotions implied in the song.
‘Jotnar Magick’
This track pays homage to Norse Mythology, telling the tale of a Jotnar (giant) that lured a goddess into his clutches. It’s a powerful, fast and drum-oriented song that matches the rapid pace of the story being told. The contrasting rhythms at the end of the song symbolizes the death of the goddess.
‘Library of Tears’
The first single from the album, this song goes back to basics with the strong, in your face metal sound and haunting background effects, reminding the listener of the despair that comes with living on a dying planet.
‘Silent December’
Taking inspiration from the cult film ‘Blade Runner,’ this track starts off with an 80’s synth-wave vibe and eerie vocal passage. From a lyrical standpoint, the song talks us through a path of vengeance that finally comes to its fruition.
‘Memories’
This is a song about the experiences of people that are forced to leave their motherland to face the odds of the unknown in a different soil; an ode to all the outcasts, the broken yet the hopeful. For the first time in the album, this track features sections of layered shouting vocals, providing a sense of unity and symbolizing that despite the adversities, we are all walking this path together.
‘The Black Rainbow’
This track is down-tempo and melodic, starting with an acoustic guitar that emphasizes the emotion and message that the song conveys – the never-ending mystery of death, and what, if anything, comes next.
‘Peregrination’
Closing the album out with a statement, the band flew into this one all guns blazing and unleashed the power that Ancient Settlers has to offer. The end of the track changes pace, essentially rolling the credits on the journey this album has been.
Stream/buy ‘Our Last Eclipse’ HERE
ANCIENT SETTLERS were founded in 2020 by Carlos Chiesa-Estomba & Herman Riera (Ex- Haboryn), Rene González (Ex- Aesthesis), Emmy Reyes (Blackbeer, Ex- Gamalyel), and Antony Hämäläinen (Meridian Dawn, Ex- Nightrage & Armageddon), a group of musicians with more than fifteen-years of experience in the European and American metal circuit.
The band started their journey with the intention to explore the frontiers of modern melodic death metal, including catchy guitar riffs, the use of synths & keyboards, and a variety of different sounds and rhythms, trying to develop their own music personality.
From a lyrical point, the band gets inspired by the recent tragedies that affect the earth and human race. They try to spread their message over all those who want to listen.
Despite this, the band needed to modify their starting plans, due to the pandemic outbreak. They pushed ahead and in January of 2021, the band released their first digital single ‘Diamond Eyes’, along-side a limited edition 7″ vinyl. The following February, the band released their debut EP ‘Autumnus’. Both were recorded in Portugal, France, Spain and the USA, and requested the service of Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Anneke Van Grisbergen) to mix & master the album, as well as Gus “Perkele” Sazes (Angra, Kamelot, Gus G, Firewind, Arch Enemy) to design the artworks.
In April 2021, Miguel Herrera joined the band as a full-time bass player. The band started to develop a live-session tour, including venues throughout Portugal, France and Spain.
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 