Primarily the work of Romain Paulet although extended to a full band for live excursions RüYYn (pronounced Ruin) are a fairly new outfit only active since 2021. Previous to this they released a self-titled EP which kind of left our reviewer as cold as its freezing artwork. Now, with the second instalment and debut full length album they have thrown some fuel on the fire and the cover-art illustrates a city scourged in flames. Hopefully the music will match and there will be more of a spark this time around were my thoughts before lighting the burner and putting the CD on. Thankfully I needn’t have worried too much as I found this a much more absorbing piece of work and one that does a very good job of matching black melodicism with hostility, just as the album title suggests.

With tracks divided into six parts via Roman numerals there are few clues into inner narrative although the booklet here has lyrics in English helping tell a tale of what strikes as biblical and medieval sounding ruination and redemption. Battering in with a force of swaggering vengeance “The Fury” is immediately evident and a hellacious gnarled yell is fast on its tail. Guitar adds the melody and it is one that is tinged with sorrow as the “song of death’ takes form the “dancing flames’ crackle and spark and ‘the drums of war” gather in strength. It’s not all fast and furious tremolo flurries here as maudlin melodicism is occasionally allowed to float over the top and meander providing variations in the pacing. There’s plenty of drive and galloping bravado as we swing into the second part. The vociferous feral barks from the are backed by the clamour of what sounds like forces gathering for a war behind them and a jaunty melody line gets the blood flowing. Cymbals add a clash of steel and it’s a suitably gritty call to arms guaranteed to get you bouncing along. Somewhat unexpectedly there’s a proggy weave adding atmosphere and a sense of space perhaps a requiem for ‘The Fallen’ before the next assault.

Musically expansive and well formulated this is the sort of album that fits in very well with others on Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions formidable roster and beyond. It should appeal to fans of Darkenhold and Griffon as well as more established names such as mid era Enslaved and Primordial. I particularly liked the barren, grandiose landscapes formed by some of the instrumental passages that are occasionally allowed to flow and the subsequent forays back into heaving might have a glorious vigour about them. It also has the feeling that there is a story to follow along with the audio aspects and a bit more of this takes shape over repeated listens. This is one that I am going to continue to absorb and immerse myself in as the cold days chill the bones and am glad to say that in the case of RüYYn to the victors the spoils have eventually come home to roost.

(8/10 Pete Woods)

https://www.facebook.com/ruyyn.official

https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/chapter-ii-the-flames-the-fallen-the-fury