Hailing from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, UNDER RUINS were founded in 2023 by veteran members of well-established bands, aiming to craft songs with powerful rhythms, interwoven riffs, and soaring melodies crowned by epic choruses. The band’s origins and the active participation of its members in various projects are indicative of the musical diversity that UNDER RUINS bring to the table, seamlessly woven into their debut album, titled “Age of the Void”.
Guitarist Markus Ullrich (ex-LANFEAR) and bassist Alexander Palma (ex-LANFEAR, ex-MAJESTY) already share musical chemistry, spanning from horror heavy metal (THEM) to instrumental prog (A COSMIC TRAIL) and speed/thrash (SEPTAGON). Drummer Sascha de Lima Beul explores folk metal paths with REMEMBER TWILIGHT, while guitarist Achim Rauscher is involved in heavy metallers IRONY. Vocalist Nuno Miguel de Barros Fernandes (ex-ANGUISH) is also well-known for his work with LANFEAR.
UNDER RUINS prove that it’s possible to look to the past without disregarding the future. Their sound perfectly complements their theme, which they describe as “The Golden Age of Piracy”. The album’s tracklist features eight songs with a total runtime of 45 minutes. However, with an intro and an outro included, the actual tracks are long and grand in scale—yes, the epic element is ever-present, carrying us on majestic musical journeys, both melodic and thunderous!
The band masterfully blends predominantly European metal aesthetics with signature elements of modern American power metal. They’re neither as fast-paced as ALESTORM nor as doomy as SERVANTS TO THE TIDE. Their sound is leaner than GREAT MASTER’s, yet they evoke the spirit of VISIGOTH and ATLANTEAN KODEX. Here, the pirate theme is not just about swagger and action but also about well-crafted drama.
Don’t overlook this release—it’s solid, dense, and brimming with great ideas. The musicianship is top-tier yet never ostentatious, delivering a pure and inspired heavy metal experience that will quench any fan’s thirst.
When UNDER RUINS independently released the singles “Lost Amidst the Unfathomable Abyss” (2023) and “Crimson Seas of Courage” (2024), both MAGNIFICENT songs, they garnered significant attention despite having no promotion or label support. Naturally, both tracks made it onto their debut full-length album, appearing in brand-new mixes and remasters.
My personal highlight is “Moonlit Requiem”, where the band’s full glory is displayed in the most magnificent way—volume, power, soaring choruses, slow-burning development, cinematic elements, and breathtaking melodies. This track is simply AMAZING!
Rehearsals for “Age of the Void” began in 2023, with recordings completed in the summer of 2024. The album was mixed by Alexander Schucker at Recording of Arts Studios and mastered for CD and vinyl by Andy Horn at Final Audio Mastering.
UNDER RUINS have already made their live debut, and they promise that much more is on the horizon.
We’ll be here, eagerly waiting for it!
“Age of the Void” will be released by FHM Records on May 2nd on both LP and CD.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can pre order both the CD and LP here.
