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Druids of Eld is a project by Australian guitarist/vocalist Matt Dodds (also of Arbrynth) and as the name might imply, channels a kind of epic metal that sounds like it comes from a time lost to history. It is quite varied with death vocals, symphonic black melodies, slightly proggy acoustic guitar lines, and Gregorian-style layered vocals, to name some of the more obvious influences. Despite its scope, it is a tight, engaging EP (at 28+ minutes, it is nearly an album). Epic metal needs to create a sense of space and long-forgotten heroic (or evil) deeds, and A Day of Sorrow does both very well, from the echoing vocals that open "Born for the Wolves" through the richly layered a capella "Druids of Eld" to the mournful percussion of "A Day of Sorrow." The metal is not forgotten, and Dodd's death growls are powerful and heavy, yet at the same time steeped in loss and uncertainty regarding decisions made in the past. It is very easy to conjure images of tragic heroes or cursed beasts pondering yet another regrettable chapter from a dark and despairing life. Some of the bands that came to my mind while listening to A Day of Sorrow were Summoning, Crom, Autumns Eyes and Agalloch, though Druids of Eld have their own sound, one that is firmly in the epic metal camp. Dodds has come up with a formula that works and as a fan of epic metal, I can't stop listening to A Day of Sorrow and am already eagerly awaiting more music from this band.