The DevilsHorns

The brain-child of Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer Snjór, Deciduous Forest have released a seriously atmospheric, folk-tinged slap of black metal in the form of Fields of Yore*.

It is an entrancingly gloomy album. It encourages a haunted atmosphere as the first notes begin, albeit the opening notes to ‘The Formless Dark’ are more intrepid than you may expect. The keys then come in behind the threatening riff as the track expands. What is immediately noticeable is that the vocals sit low in the mix. If it is not a deliberate ploy it is one of the more lucky elements you will find, as it works perfectly throughout this entrancing album.

Fields of Yore is nearly 47 minutes long, yet features a mere 5 tracks. It is essential that your attention is grabbed and, more importantly, maintained throughout the run-times of the longer tracks. ‘Ghost of Lies’ is over 9 minutes long! It is also exceptional! The guitar tone is seriously cool, chunky, providing necessary meatiness to the omnipresent expansive keys. With the noticeable bass, the track attempts to kick the rest of the Fields of Yore in the balls, a self-imposing boss-move.

The first of the more folk metal appears with the title track, ‘Fields of Yore’. A deliberate 12 minute plus track, it proves ‘Ghost of Lies’ to be a failure in its glorious attempt to be boss. ‘Fields of Yore’ is a triumph, provoking periods of air-drumming and an almost mournful keys section before the uplifting aspect of the track takes hold. Often, lazy reviewers will say the album takes you on a ‘journey’. The even lazier reviewers will tell you that a particular song takes you on a journey.

There, I said it, and I challenge thee to dispute my assertion. The 5 tracks on offer from Deciduous Forest are incredibly strong. Big riffs, deliberate keys, intelligent vocal production, all of these provide a very strong debut album from a talented multi-instrumentalist. His band is called Deciduous Forest, it may not shed any leaves!

*corny last sentence ending alert

Instagram

Bandcamp