Forgotten Woods

[Eoin McLove]

Herr Reality hasn't opened a thread so I'm going to do the honours. Man, there's so much to get your teeth into across 'As the Wolves Gather', 'Sjel av Natten' and 'The Curse of Mankind'. The style the band plays is deceptive in its minimalism; they manage to sneak plenty of ideas into their songs. Maybe it's because the songs unfold slowly over fairly extended playing times that it seems like not a lot is going on in initial contact. Perhaps it's the really basic production. Whatever the reason for it, I'm finding the more time I spend with these albums the more I'm getting out of them. Interestingly they get credited as one of the pioneers of depressive black metal,  along with Burzum, but like Burzum they tend towards something more epic and occasionally rocking rather than complete bleakness. At least that's what I'm getting. I can hear a strong similarity to early Burzum and maybe more predominantly Strid. Such good music. I'll have to grab 'Race of Cain' at some point.

[Circlepit]

I'd never heard of this band until AA spoke about then on his podcast in relation to underrated Norwegian black metal.

At first listen i thought it was only ok but now it's the one I  back to the most. I love that aesthetic. Black k and white photocopy look always wins and the frosty goodness within.
Great band.

[Eoin McLove]

They took me a few spins to get into. I had dipped in and out of their albums over the years without them making any particular impact but they have got in under my skin lately and the more time spent with them the better they sound. The bass playing and production is spot on.

[Grim Reality]

Yeah great stuff right up my street from when I first heard them. Love the mid pace, spacious stuff. Eerie melodies, superbly atmospheric.

A few AA mentioned on that pod were pretty well known but he more or less name dropped the entire 90s scene.

Some of the great Norwegian BM from that era that I feel is a bit overlooked along with FW would be.....

Manes - svarte skoger
Troll - trollstorm over nidingjuv
Ancient - svartelvheim, trolltar
Dimmu Borgir - for all tid ( obviously a massive band but debut is gold and possibly ignored due to subsequent crimes)
Limbonic Art - moon in the scorpio
Odium - the sad realm of the stars
Ragnarok- nattferd
Strid - end of life

There's definitely loads more. A mind blowing scene with Forgotten Woods up there with Emperor, Burzum et al for me.

[Circlepit]

For Al Tid is quite special. I love the passion and energy that their modern stuff lacks.

[Shitstirrer]

Check out obtained enslavement-witchcraft album .

As good as any album from that era .symphonic but in a rather unorthodox way .

Their third album soulblight is very good too but witchcraft is where it's at.

[Eoin McLove]

I've seen a lot of talk about it. I may have even given it a quick blast but nothing from it stuck. Another on the must listen list.

[Cailleach]

Anyone heard of Celestial Bloodshed?

[Eoin McLove]

Yeah, I have a tape off theirs.

[Eoin McLove]

What make yee of Joyless? I've listened to bits and pieces. The first album sounds closest to FW from the little I've listened to. The second one has a similar, raw production and has a few similar musical ideas but the female vocals are a bit hard on the ear. Maybe they will grow over time. I might have to scoop up those ATMF reissues at some point.