Old Forest - Graveside

 

Old Forest have become one of the UK's longest running black metal projects. 26 years and eight albums into their career they are still delivering some of their best material to date. This new record Graveside is some of their best work to date. It's a record that embraces the more rough and ready old school magic of the early 90s black metal scene and which doesn't worry about perfectly produced offerings. Instead there is a sense here that the band is trying to get back to the youthful core of the genre, with songs that are burgeoning with life and new possibility. This record sees the band executing at a whole new level and thrilling with a vision that is triumphantly atavistic. 

This is the best sort of tribute to the old days of the genre. The group clearly draws from acts like Emperor and Enslaved in order to create something that is deeply engaging and anthemic, that feels like it could have come out in 1992. Old Forest haven't gotten lost in the modern trappings of the genre, instead they have gone back, dug deeper and tried to unveil a layer of madness that few of the bands peers can really lean into. This is a record that perfectly nails the old school side of the genre and it's hard not to be enamored with the larger than life war cries, melodic guitars and buzzing guitars. 

Pre-order your copy: 

https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/graveside