Album Details

• Artist: A Forest Of Stars
• Album: The Corpse Of Rebirth
• Label: Transcendental Creations
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2009-03-07

UK-based epic black metallers A Forest Of Stars have quickly made a name for themselves in many an underground circle; their inspirations are manifold and their direction one of thick, engaging atmosphere. On The Corpse of Rebirth (debut) they seem to reflect the post-rock leanings many indie bands are going with in recent years, while carrying a heavy, Wolves In The Throne Room-esque black metal foundation and building upon it with multiple sounds.

Intense opener "God"slowly builds behind mournful violin (a mainstay in the sound and something that will either draw listeners in or turn them away, depending on your like or dislike of the instrument) and thick guitar walls.It explodes in it's first crescendo around 8 minutes in, introducing hyper-paced percussion and dissonant, violent vocal stylings. This may be the weakest part of A Forest Of Star's sound, the vocals, and detracts only slightly from what is otherwise an epic and enjoyable journey. No song clocks in than less than 9 minutes ("Earth And Matter" is the shortest at 9:40, and may be the most accessable track here consequently). Each of the 5 movements is quite a daunting task to engage at the onset but, with each minute that passes, you should find yourself that much more overcome by the incredibly precice atmosphere the band conjures up. 

This band really took me by surprise, and I expect The Corpse of Rebirth will end up on my best-of list for the year despite it being released the year prior. 5 songs, about an hour of pure metallic bliss spiced up by folk leanings, trance-inducing songwriting and instrumental sections, and an overall atmosphere that appeals to me and will so too to any fan of atmospheric, ambient black metal. This is a special album, one you shouldn't let pass by. 

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