{"id":926258,"date":"2026-07-10T20:40:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T20:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/926258\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T20:40:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T20:40:18","slug":"saidan-fangdriller-scars-beneath-memorys-wrist-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/926258\/","title":{"rendered":"Saidan – Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory’s Wrist Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory\u2019s Wrist wasn\u2019t an album I\u2019d initially planned to review, but when my Dear Friend<\/strong> said he wasn\u2019t able to make the time, I carved some out. Brainchild of vocalist\/guitarist\/bassist Splatterpvnk, Nashville, Tennessee\u2019s Saidan <\/strong>plays black metal at once scathing and ultra-melodic. Visual Kill, and specifically Dear Hollow<\/strong>\u2019s blurb<\/a> about it, introduced me to Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s charms. Since then, I\u2019ve kept Visual Kill in regular rotation and hotly anticipated their next release. That time is now upon us, and I\u2019ve prepared my body and eardrums for Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s raw, blackened stylings steeped in tunefulness so seductive that I\u2019m left in sonic subjugation. The only task left to us, then, is to explore how deep Fangdriller\u2019s Scars go.<\/p>\n

Tangentially or directly, one topic that garners a fair bit of discussion in our beloved blog\u2019s reviews is originality. Considering how clustered some corners of the metalsphere have become, singular identities stand out like a white-hot beacon in the dead of night, and Saidan <\/strong>doubtlessly brings this galvanizing vitality to their music. Conceptually, Fangdriller adds another chapter to Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s narrative conceit, acting as a precursor to Visual Kill and detailing the crippling exile of loneliness that breeds ideal targets for abuse and manipulation. Musically, Fangdriller skews more morose and wistful than the wrath-wrought frenzy of Visual Kill. While Moonlight<\/strong> Sorcery<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s eldritch mystique and Sacramentum<\/strong>\u2019s furious riffstorming ably serve as points of comparison, Stormkeep<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s subdued grandeur and \u846c\u706b<\/strong>\u2019s seething angst whet Fangdriller\u2019s emotional impact to a finer point than its predecessor.<\/p>\n

\ufeffFANGDRILLER: Scars Beneath Memory\u2019s Wrist by Saidan<\/a><\/p>\n

Compared to previous outings, Fangdriller eases off some of the experimental diversity and instead focuses on delivering first-rate compositional cohesion. Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s melodic sensibilities permeate Fangdriller\u2019s runtime, from opening track \u201cRazorblade Temptation\u201d onwards. Trem-picked guitar leads dance across the fretboard as breakcore drum beats and sparkling synth injections swirl within the mix (\u201cRapture (I\u2019ll Wait for You),\u201d \u201cKara No Bara\u201d). Where Visual Kill luxuriates in flamboyance, reminding me of Sallow Moth<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s Mossbane Lantern, Fangdriller affixes to mood and songwriting. The tension within \u201cKara No Bara\u201d and \u201cWomb of Hatred\u201d simmers with bombastic builds that explode with the culmination of inexorable pressure, guided by the frantic rhythms of drummer (and only other band member) Hundosai. Each song on Fangdriller sways with relentless tensity and release, but it\u2019s quasi-title track \u201cStained Glass Sin \u2013 Fang Driller\u201d that achieves the supreme compositional masterstroke. Beginning with a slow, ramping maelstrom, the give and take on \u201cStained Glass Sin\u2026\u201d propel it to the cusp of melodic nirvana, which is when the transcendent solo bushwhacks with full force. Though impressive on their own, the individual components of the song aren\u2019t what shatters expectations\u2014it\u2019s the perfect sequencing to release. And more than any other element Saidan<\/strong> presents, these calculated moments and transitions maximize Fangdriller\u2019s impact throughout.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Along with the expert compositions and performances, Saidan <\/strong>sounds amazing on Fangdriller. While maintaining the typical raw stylings, Splatterpvnk\u2019s every note remains delectably audible despite the background fuzz and hiss. The downside to this production style is that the bottom end is a tad thin, but this hardly registers given that Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s songwriting doesn\u2019t hinge on it. The crude aesthetic is especially evident on final track \u201cMortuary,\u201d which applies the same treatment as Visual Kill\u2019s somber closer \u201cSuffer\u201d by way of melancholic guitar strumming supporting emo cleans. It makes for a satisfying denouement, and even though \u201cMortuary\u201d double-dips with this trick, conceptually it tethers the albums to an even greater degree.<\/p>\n

Upon listening to Fangdriller as a fan, the potency of Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s refined melodicism immediately stood out. Further treasures revealed themselves after spending even more time with it for my review. Nearly two dozen spins later, I never find my interest waning throughout Fangdriller\u2019s forty-seven minutes. Quite the opposite, as each time \u201cMortuary\u201d fades, I either restart the album or desire to. Though slightly less gung-ho than its predecessor, what Fangdriller forfeits in balls-out blitzing Saidan <\/strong>recoups in songwriting sophistication. If you haven\u2019t listened to this one yet, you should. Though I liked Fangdriller from the outset, each subsequent spin has solidified my love for it. For anyone skeptical of Saidan<\/strong>\u2019s latest, I encourage a dedicated, active listen\u2014there\u2019s a beautifully constructed album waiting to share its dark secrets with you if you\u2019re brave enough to let it.<\/p>\n

Rating<\/strong>: Great!
DR<\/strong>: 8 | Format Reviewed<\/strong>: 320 kbps mp3
Label<\/strong>: Avantgarde Music<\/a>
Websites<\/strong>: Bandcamp<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a>
Releases Worldwide<\/strong>: June 19th, 2026<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n