Dark Forest

Serenity – Nemesis A.D. Review

By Steel Druhm on November 1, 2023 in Reviews, Power Metal, 24 comments

“Austria’s Serenity had a pretty good run over these last 10 years. Starting life as a progressive-minded power metal act, by the time 2013s War of Ages hit the streets they’d shifted to a more streamlined and grandiose style, sounding like Kamelot cross-bred with Sonata Arctica and Avantasia. The formula worked very well due to consistently solid, memorable songwriting and albums like Codex Atlanticus and Lionheart had a lot to offer fans of larger-than-life symphonic power metal. 2020s The Last Knight was a step backward, dumbing down their sound while trying to make it more poppy and accessible, with bright synths and borderline club beats underlying the usual pomp and circumstance. The end product was still Serenity but things sounded plastic, frail, and light on substance. Three years on we get their eighth album, Nemesis A.D.” Serenity NOW!

The EP, Split and Single Post Part 2 [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

By El Cuervo on January 5, 2023 in Blog Posts, 85 comments

Many EPs were missed in the mad rush of 2022. This is the course correction you need Pt. II.

Trial – Feed the Fire Review

By Steel Druhm on September 8, 2022 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 104 comments

“Way back in 2015, when the world was young and AMG was still using the cursed and damned Excel Promo Sheet ov Doom, an album called Vessel by Swedish prog/power/trad act Trial graced my earholes. It was like a joyous fusion of Crimson Glory, early Fates Warning, In Solitude and NWoBHM and I really enjoyed it. I planned to review it but time conspired against me and Vessel never got the AMG treatment it deserved. 2017s Motherless did, however, and that album was a hot mess lacking the old timey charm and mystique of its predecessor. Fast forward to 2022 and Trial return with Feed the Fire and a brand new singer, and the awkwardness of Motherless is nowhere to be found.” Trial by fire.

Steel Druhm’s Top Ten(ish) of 2020

By Steel Druhm on January 4, 2021 in Blog Posts, Lists, 249 comments

Lord Protector Steel Druhm proclaims that which is trve iron in 2020 with his mighty Top Ten(ish). Fear the ape, respect the list, forge the swords.

Doom_et_Al’s and Dear Hollow’s Top Ten(ish) of 2020

By Doom_et_Al on December 27, 2020 in 2020, Blog Posts, Lists, 114 comments

Doom_et_Al and Dear Hollow have their big boy lists. Did they use that great power responsibly?

Record(s) o’ the Month – April 2020

By Angry Metal Guy on May 22, 2020 in Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, 197 comments

It’s Record(s) o’ the Month season! Come and see how many individual writers, readers and bands that AMG Himself can insult in a single post! You’ll be shocked, awed and, most likely, insulted! This is the content you come here for.

Dark Forest – Oak, Ash & Thorn Review

By Steel Druhm on April 21, 2020 in 2020, Cruz Del Sur, English Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Power Metal, 66 comments

“U.K.’s Dark Forest has been cranking out high quality music since 2009, with a very interesting blend of Euro-power, traditional heavy metal and just enough folk elements to give them a slightly unique sound. Albums like The Awakening and 2016s Beyond the Veil were very good, teetering on the cusp of greatness, borrowing from NWoBHM legends like Iron Maiden while also dipping into the slick songcraft of Avantasia and prime Sonata Arctica. Their compositional and storytelling acumen improved with each release and I just knew they had a truly big release in them dying to burst free.” Really good wood.

Dark Forest – Beyond the Veil Review

By Steel Druhm on September 22, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 41 comments

“I wanted to get this review up much sooner but life happened, and though it’s several weeks tardy, Beyond the Veil, Dark Forest’s fourth album, definitely deserves a spotlight shone upon it. All the more so considering we whiffed on reviewing their excellent 2014 release, The Awakening. These English chaps play folksy power metal with a butt-ton ton of traditional and NWoBHM influences, often sounding like a fusion of Iron Maiden, Kamelot and Skyclad.” Go get Ent!