I’m going to have to be honest here and embarrass myself in public; I love black metal and have a genuine soft spot for the unique UK variety. I have been aware of Old Forest since…well actually probably since their 1999 debut ‘Into The Old Forest’ and yet somehow…. Yep. It was literally two months ago, 2023, when I finally got around to listening to them properly besides the odd track here and there. Inexcusable, absolutely, but life is what it is and all I can do is do better.
But safe to say I am still pretty much coming to this new.
‘Faust Recants Satan Cometh’ rolls out the album in slow, menacing manner, a dark old school riff and great sinister vocals. The synths have a misty, echoing vibe when they come in, that sound bordering dungeon synth and very old CoF but the riff picks up speed and we pitch into a great turbulent song. It’s not what you would call immediate, and at over six minutes long for an opener but, well, it’s also the kind of song that proves initial reactions wrong and it certainly lets you know who you are listening to.
‘Black Hearts Of Sutwyke’ is therefore a little second shock. Clean vocals, a melody that kind of scream English folklore even before the title sinks in, a turn of pace that tips into nicely swift but deeply atmospheric black metal and showcases not just a veterans’ gift for a tune but the perfect use of the synth sounds to envelope yet not smother the whole. And when it goes for the throat, it absolutely tears at you. Fantastic.
‘Zodiac Of War’ eases back once more, an almost introspective but bleak song with again a fine use of clean voices, synths and fine choices of riffs. ‘Winter Years Begin’ definitely sounds biting cold; Old Forest are clearly masters and creating the perfect atmosphere for their songs; vocals, riffs and keyboards balanced to perfection as the feeling of the inexorable and irresistible vice-grip of winter closes in around isolated humans. The guitar swirls like the wind around sharp corners and weak walls. The quiet passage painting the world in dark night and white snow. The curiously titled ‘Master Of Arachnids’ is a little more spiky in style for me, despite the smoothing synth sounds. A crawling feeling, something arriving. Not something good.
We get a two-part song next. ‘The Witch Of Prague’. Despite the clean vocals, the almost folky lilt to them, this like the rest of the album retain that nineties black metal feel and all the better for it. It makes me long for the lyric sheet of course I hope the album might come with them as what I glean sound rich and intriguing. It has a, well I want to say ‘softer’ sound but that is only in comparison. Extended use of clean vocals in Part 2 and a melancholy feel create this, but done so well and the ending passage is a sublime slight tempo change as the melody ushers you outside.
They close with ‘Effigies To The Flames’, a song drenched in horror and once more the mix of clean and snarling, snapping vocals that brings everything into sharp relief. There’s a slightly eccentric feel to this one, a determined sound and curious synth sounds coming together in the ever rich melody. A fine closing.
So, after all this time what can I say particularly to the people like me who for no apparent reason have not yet indulged in this band? Old Forest have an undeniable lineage to that classic nineties sound. Nothing wrong at all in that especially when combined with such a verve and a feel for songwriting as this. It weaves melody through a backdrop of horror and folklore, unafraid of plentiful clean vocals and synths as more than just ethereal clouds and leaves you with seven tales to intrigue and tantalise.
Storytellers and conjurers, Sutwyke is a superb slice of UKBM and should be relished by all. Their back catalogue is going to make my wallet wince, but some things have to be done.
Excellent.
(8.5/10 Gizmo)
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