CoC : Forsaken - After the Fall : Review

Forsaken - _After the Fall_
(I Hate Records, 2009)
by: Quentin Kalis (8.5 out of 10)

It is tempting to pour scorn on Forsaken's status as nonpareil torchbearers of Maltese metal; after all, how much competition could the minute island state possibly genereate? This temptation lasts for only a few seconds beyond an (admittedly inane) intro, as the delicious lurching riffs and crisp production dispel any and all doubts: Forsaken are big fish, no matter the size of the pond. Originally a traditional heavy metal band, Forsaken have migrated towards an epic doom motif in the vein of Candlemass and Solitude Aeternus, the former's Messiah Marcolin providing a template for the wailing and soaring vocals. Their past has been of no small benefit, as many elements of traditional metal, from the vocals to the melodic solos and powerful riffs, have been adopted and expanded upon to create their haunting sound. All this wrapped up in an apocalyptic vision as seen through Christian eyes rather than teenage horror fans or weekend Satanists. Toss in a few anthemic choruses and the result is a textbook example of what doom should be.

Contact: http://www.forsakenmalta.com

(article published 16/8/2009)

DEMOS
9/21/2003	J Smit	4.5	Forsaken - Iconoclast