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Album reviews:
Here you'll find all album reviews sorted on publish date, descending. Latest published items are on top.
Note: We don't give a mark to: MCDs, DEMOs, Compilations and Live albums.
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| Page: Show all reviews |
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 | 01. The Battle of Badon Hill
02. Pipes of Pan
03. The Wizard of Alderley Edge
04. Dyed in Crimson
05. Excalibur
06. Hollow Hills
07. Fear Dearg
08. The Wrekin Giant
09. Fight for Metal
10. Dark Forest
|  | Dark Forest was formed in 2002 by vocalist / guitarist Christian Horton and original bassist Dave Batham. The idea was to write and play Heavy Metal music as inspired by bands like Iron Maiden and Deep Purple. As the song writing progressed, more of the lyrical themes became based around folklore and legends and the name of Dark Forest seemed to fit the atmosphere. By 2004 the band had released a three track demo called Succubus and were playing as many gigs as possible. After a few lineup changes they recorded two more demos by themselves in 2006, Fear Dearg and Phantoms of the Sea.
By the time they came to record the debut album, the band had played many gigs including twice as support band of Cloven Hoof, who Christian now plays rhythm guitar for, and had found the line up for the album. James Lees on guitar, Adam Sidaway on drums and original bassist Dave Batham had been replaced by Bill Clough. Since then, Clough has been replaced on bass by Paul Thompson and the band continue to gig and constantly write new material.
So here is the debut album from Dark Forest. The British Dark Fores” who likes to play the NWOBHM. Just like thrash metal is back in business, you can say that there is also a NWOBHM revival going on. And our friends from UK’s Dark Fores” make ten songs which does remind one at that beautiful period in the history of heavy metal.
Just listen to the opener The Battle of Badon Hill. Some twin guitars like Iron Maiden use to do in the beginning of their career, and the polyphonic choruses are going in the direction of Satan (Remember Court in the Act?). Of course we have several guitar solo’s in every song on this album, but isn’t that normal with this music and the reference NWOBHM ?
Was everything good at those days, the early eighties? No, of course not. And here we have the fault that Dark Forest made in 2009. The production of this album is flat and that is a pity, ‘cause in this age we have so much techniques to our will so this is a point to change with the next record. Besides Dark Forest playing heavy metal from the NWOBHM they are also bringing some folk music into some of the songs. Songs like The Wizard of Alderley Edge, Hollow Hills, The Wrekin Giant and Fight for Metal have that little bit extra as you may say. Especially The Wizard of Alderley Edge and Fight for Metal does remind me of the early albums from Skyclad. Eventually I enjoyed myself with this debut album from Dark Forest.
If you like the early work from bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Skyclad, Satan and Holocaust you might check out this album from Dark Forest. So the revival of the NWOBHM is going on, let it come, let it come ..........
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Rating: 73 /100 | |
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