My 2024 review of Sgàile’s Traverse the Bealach was the exact kind of musical discovery that occasionally reminds us AMG writers why we do this. Sgàile was a band I’d never heard of, but turned out to be the project of a musician I’ve long enjoyed (in this case, Tony Dunn, whom I knew from Falloch, but who has also played in Saor and Cnoc an Tursa), and ended up on my year-end list. Not only that, several of my colleagues—and plenty of the commentariat—were equally fond of Sgàile’s take on atmospheric post-prog metal. Truly, Sgàile had proven themselves an exciting band worth watching, and I’ve been keenly watching in anticipation of Sgàile’s newest opus, Onwards to Embrace the Echo.
The sound of Sgàile here is largely untouched from what was crystallized on Traverse the Bealach, which is a blessing, considering that we’re firmly in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” territory. It’s very riffy, commanding prog-metal with a dreamy post-metal edge, characterized by impeccable melodic work and the unbeatable vocals of Tony Dunn. Thanks to the returning Mike Lamb and his professional work on sound mixing, Onwards sounds genuinely great with a mix that’s equal parts spacious and tactile. You feel the full weight of the rhythm guitars across a song like “Vindicated,” while the lead guitars almost float above them. Most crucially for my tastes, I’m thrilled to report that Onwards to Embrace the Echo once again has a delightful Scottish burr to it. Both Dunn’s guitars and vocals have a rolling bounce to them, giving both the softer and heavier moments an irresistible allure across the album, yet most keenly heard in “Vindicated,” “Watch for the Widowmaker,” and the title track.
Considering Sgàile’s penchant for writing albums comprised primarily of expansive songs that stretch well past the eight-minute mark, pacing is of paramount importance. Thankfully, Onwards’ pacing remains steadfast throughout, with nearly all fat professionally trimmed off. There’s a well-defined, effective ebb and flow to the song structure and placement, hitting all the right peaks and valleys on the micro and macro level. The striking riffwork of “Vindicated” leads well into the initially softer “The Sunset Haze,” before erupting into chugging riffwork which further guides you snugly into the blast-beat-riddled “Watch for the Widowmaker,” nary a moment wasted. It’s the kind of well-paced album that’s easy to throw on, and you never have to wait for the good part. It’s funny, while I criticized Traverse the Bealach’s pace for slipping in the stretch before the closing song, in the same spot here Dunn has placed the album’s biggest surprise and standout song: “Senses of an Angel.” In essence, a more subdued song, it patiently builds towards an unforgettable, achingly beautiful chorus, and also has an inspired guest appearance by Heike Langhans. It’s a poignant song about the challenging yet rewarding experience of raising a child, and it makes me tear up every time.
What initially challenged me about this album is perhaps its greatest departure from Traverse the Bealach. I praised Traverse for its sinewy sense of momentum, where every riff seemed written in a way that you could intuit what would happen next. It’s a quality I’ve subconsciously begun associating with Sgàile, and Onwards is, in contrast, some shades more dynamic and unpredictable. And yet, it works due to Dunn being very strong with his moment-to-moment songwriting. “Vindicated” shifts from glorious riffs to an echoing escalation, “Onwards to Embrace the Echo” starts off galloping before moving into bright, dramatic sentimentality, “The Sunset Haze” casts a wide net of musical moods; no matter the direction of Onwards’ bolder cadence, it all feels inspired and never boring. I’m ultimately left with little to critique structurally about Onwards—save for the smallest details. Namely, I wish “Destination Addiction” transitioned a little more smoothly into “Vindicated”; there’s a little transitory guitar flourish towards the end of “Vindicated” that’s slightly superfluous, and some of the latter half of “The Sunset Haze” isn’t quite as melodically exciting compared to the rest.
Still, you know it’s a good album when your only complaints are clear nitpicks. I’d long been foaming at the mouth for Sgàile’s next release, and Onwards to Embrace the Echo was exactly what I was hoping for. It follows through on the melodic sensibilities that made Traverse the Bealach great while standing strong on its own merits by carving out its own momentum. Onwards is sure to populate lots of top 10 lists, regardless of releasing so close to year’s end. Finally, I’m determined not to make the same mistake I did last time that demanded a visit to the Contrite Metal Guy post, so allow me to give Onwards the score it deserves from the jump.1
Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: WAV
Label: These Hands Melt
Websites: bandcamp | facebook
Releases Worldwide: October 2nd, 2026
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