RUINS
We come from a place of no pity, attempting to rid ourselves of all weakness, we perceive this darkness from a warriors view.
Ruins, from Hobart, Tasmania, began with Alex Pope and Dave Haley hanging out drinking beers and listening to music. As mates, they wrote songs that interested them that, and reflected their broad influences. For Dave, this was likely a much needed outlet from the technical death metal that is Psycroptic. The initial goal was to write and record music, it was as simple as that, forever the goal of many teenagers. Ruins achieved that quickly with Atom and Time, a demo/EP released in 2004. Atom and Time is a very good opening statement; it is grim, cold and desolate but powerful, a mix that would continue into further releases.
Ruins are influenced by a lot, and it would be impossible to list all their influences and inspirations. Alex Pope is a huge admirer of the work of Tom G Warrior, from Hellhammer through to Triptykon, and you can hear it in some of the vocals, but also the riffs as well, particularly Celtic Frost. AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Motorhead from the rock side of things is evident. You can also hear touches of Bathory, Darkthrone, Mayhem and Satyricon. Their sound is uniquely them. Ruins is a riff frenzy, but equally balanced and dynamic. A lot of thought goes into the songwriting and production, which is evident with the bass that shines through more than often.
“So much of this Black metal music ends up sounding pitiful and weak, rather than coming from a place of no pity, and being powerful. Ruins is a bid for power, we attempt to rid ourselves of weakness, sometimes the music is quite uplifting… this is the warriors pleasure at smashing that self-pity that the morose feelings bring, in a way our music is about describing that shift; studying that shift, this is the basis of what we are about, therefore dynamics play a big part in the music. We are always in death’s vicinity.”
Dutch label Neurotic Records released Spun Forth as Dark Nets in 2005. It opens with an ungodly wail, and then you are hit with riffs and intense transitions. The album smashes you with war and battles, time portals, humanity - death - universe, testing consciousness and the meaning of time. These things interest Pope, and he often describes his concepts as using a warriors view, and mix this through the lens of sorcery. Spun Forth as Dark Nets was their introduction to the universe of Ruins.
A sign of a quality band is the company they keep. Ruins has opened for Immortal, Celtic Frost and Satyricon. They also had a slot on Download Australia in 2019, playing alongside Slayer, Behemoth, Judas Priest and Alice in Chains. Ruins are respected as one of Australia’s best underground Black Metal bands, but also one of the most consistent bands in the world, and their live show is powerful and uplifting.
Outside of film, describing a creative work as atmospheric is uniquely a metal thing, especially extreme metal, and Black Metal does it the best. It can often sound forced and implanted. Ruins create a tone and mood organically. Samples are included throughout their discography, sparingly though and always timed well to elevate feelings or emotions. However, it is the consistent tone and style used that creates the mysterious, isolated, yet powerful atmosphere. This is done perfectly throughout Cauldron (2008), where an eery and seductive guitar effect permeates the album. Neurosis often deploy this, especially on Honor Found in Decay.
When I hear music that makes a true impact on me, I want others to listen to it like I do, but I know that is impossible because absorbing art in any form is an individual experience. Similarly, it is impossible to understand what Alex Pope is tapping into when he is writing this music, it really is art in ints truest form, and somewhat an outer body experience for him.
Front The Final Foes (2009) sounds and feels like you are on the front line, hand to hand combat with the enemy on their knees. It is a more direct album than before, but also very deep. Ruins beckons you forward with Tom G Warrior’s vocal mannerisms giving you a sly wink. Drums, the beating and charging heart, the riffs are everywhere, aggressive, and they force you to clench your fists. There is no place for weakness within the universe of Ruins. This message is strong throughout their discography.
A Place of No Pity, released in 2012 Is a long album at 58 minutes, but it does not waiver in quality. An interesting and unique move was re-recording three of the tracks from Atom and Time. The band did not have a lot of control with the production of their demo, so this corrected a few production wrongs, and all the tracks bring more muscle and clarity, but ultimately push the length of the album into tiring waters.
We build what it is we want
No time for retreat or regret
We work for patience and will
Will is what will make us succeed
When our thoughts spell our defeat
Will is what makes us invulnerable
The true link between man and the world
No longer time for regrets
Or recriminations
Decisions are final
Death sits with us
Death advises
In mysterious ways
How to choose
And the warrior waits
It is rare that a band can write a 45-50 minute album and it be consistently strong from start to finish, and Undercurrent stamps the mark on that, released in 2016, it is a brilliant album that was perhaps the most Black Metal in attitude Ruins has delivered. Ruins can at times sound like the aforementioned influences, but I feel they are more influenced by themselves and the body of work that they have done. How can we better ourselves? How can we hone our craft and make it true to what we want to do?
Ruins has achieved consistent quality that many have not replicated. From Atom and Time right through to the last seconds of Undercurrent. It is difficult to pick a favourite, they are all brilliant in their own ways, each with subtle differences, and a steady evolution. Ruins do things their way, they triumph and that is true Black Metal in my eyes.
Ruins are an incredible band, led by Pope and Haley, they tap into what Black Metal should be about. It is about strength and empowerment, the opposite of something in ruin. There is not a weak moment in their whole discography. Ruins are powerful and intelligent, thought provoking with a killer attitude. Highly recommended. It seems we may have heard the last of them unfortunately.