I have to start this review off by getting something off my chest. It’s not exactly a grievance, and it certainly isn’t a complaint; it’s just something that’s been bugging me since I started spinning The Awakening. They sound almost exactly like Total Eclipse.
Never heard of Total Eclipse? You’re not alone. They did garner some recognition and acclaim leading up to and following the release of their debut full-length Ashes of Eden in 2002, but it wasn’t long after that that they split up. Now, they were from my hometown, so my experience with them began several years prior, with their Guardians of Metal EP and what should have been their first album Spellcaster (recorded, shelved, and finally released in 2008). They quickly became one of my favorite locals; I’d frequently travel around the area to see them live and have them as guests on my radio show, so we became pretty tight – apparently enough so that when I hear a completely unrelated band in 2014, I flash back to the simple, classic vocal style and deft twin guitar riffage – and yes, perhaps just a smidge back to a time when the epic power/melodic style was still relatively new to me.
I had to say all that because it may or may not be impacting my opinion of The Awakening. I don’t think Dark Forest is ripping off my old friends or anything, and I don’t think their sound is old and rehashed; I do think it has changed quite a bit since their eponymous debut, but considering the lineup has almost completely turned over since then, that is hardly surprising. Other than that, my memories of that album are fairly nonexistent, other than that I enjoyed it upon the recommendation of someone whose tastes and opinion I respect highly.
All this and still little of substance on the actual album, eh? Well, I’ll try to remedy that shortly.
The Awakening is at best a respectable slab of traditional metal and at worst an unnecessary one. If you love riffs, especially to the extent that you feel albums should be nothing but riffs, then Dark Forest is for you. I’m not sure there is a standard rhythm progression to be found here. If there are, the songs are still heavily comprised of dual guitar leads, which gives everything a tremendously epic feel – “Hollywood Metal,” I’ve heard it referred to.
“Sacred Signs” leads the charge with fist-raising rhythms and dexterous leads. “Rise Like Lions” soon does just that, kicking the tempo and heaviness up a few notches without sacrificing the traditional elements, including a clean, relaxed vocal that somehow still pulses with a passionate urgency, as if rallying the listener to follow his lead. This same feel resurfaces in “Secret Commonwealth” albeit a bit less relaxed with the multiple timbre changes. That and the earlier “Panda’s Fen” represent the two instances where the total package of Dark Forest is best displayed.
So, I do think the familiarity of the sound dampened my outlook of The Awakening. It was difficult to enjoy not because it isn’t good, but because my mind kept getting distracted and going back to that other band, which led to thinking about what might have been. I prefer the original incarnation of Dark Forest, though, as much of this album seems to lack a certain fire and/or energy, and feels a bit too premeditated and methodic.
However, it is the type of album I would imagine hardcore aficionados of the new school of traditional metal getting very excited about.
