A Forest Of Stars - A Shadowplay For Yesterdays
| Release date: | 20 July 2012 |
| Style: | Atmospheric black metal |
Owners: |
173 have it 22 want it |
01. Directionless Resurrectionist
02. Prey Tell Of The Church Fate
03. A Prophet For A Pound Of Flesh
04. The Blight Of God's Acre
05. Man's Laughter
06. The Underside Of Eden
07. Gatherer Of The Pure
08. Left Behind As Static
09. Corvus Corona (Part 1)
10. Corvus Corona (Part 2)
11. Dead Love [bonus]
The best Black Metal album of 2012
02. Prey Tell Of The Church Fate
03. A Prophet For A Pound Of Flesh
04. The Blight Of God's Acre
05. Man's Laughter
06. The Underside Of Eden
07. Gatherer Of The Pure
08. Left Behind As Static
09. Corvus Corona (Part 1)
10. Corvus Corona (Part 2)
11. Dead Love [bonus]
The best Black Metal album of 2012
Review
Lyrics Mister Curse - vocals
The Gentleman - piano, synths, percussions, programming, drums, samples
Henry Hyde Bronsdon - guitars, vocals, ukulele, samples
Sir Gastrix Grimshaw - guitars, backing vocals
Katie "Katheryne, Queen Of The Ghosts" Stone - flutes, violins, vocals
Mr. John "The Resurrectionist" Bishop - drums, percussions
Mr. Titus Lungbutter - bass
Session:
Mr. Philip Wilcox - accordion
Additional info
Release dates:
Germany/Austria: July 20, 2012
Europe: July 23, 2012
North America: August 14, 2012
Everywhere else: July 23, 2012
Formats:
- Jewelcase CD. Budget edition with 8-page booklet and no extras.
- Digipak CD. Premium edition in 3-wing Digipak with 20-page booklet. Including bonus track "Dead Love".
- Artbook 2CD/DVD. Collector's edition in 28 x 28 cm hardcover book with 48 pages. Including bonus track "Dead Love", bonus CD with two exclusive cover songs, and DVD with "Gatherer Of The Pure" video clip. Limited to 1000 copies.
- Gatefold 2LP. Vinyl edition with 12-page booklet and poster. Including bonus track "Dead Love". Limited to 500 copies.
Recordedat the Gentelmen's C;ub & the Coach House between August - December 1891.
Except Mr Bishop's trap kit, which was recorded by Robert Hobson at http://www.silent-city.co.uk.
Produced & engineered by Henry Brondson/The Gentleman. Mixed & mastred by Henry Brondson.
With: The Projectionist - Live lighting & imagery, moving pictures & animation.
Cover design & illustration: Karolina Szymkiewicz.
Layout, design & lithographics: Grum.
Scratchings: Curse.
Photography: The Projectionist.
Rating:
9.2
9.2
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Rating: 9.2 |
Let me tell you what I believe is the ultimate measure of a band's talent: how many genres they can blend together into a mass fusion of sound, while at the same time sticking to the core base of the primary genre from which they come. A Forest Of Stars have already proven themselves masters at such a technique with 2008's The Corpse Of Rebirth and 2010's lesser-acclaimed (but still impressive) Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring. And here they are in 2012, ready to split the black metal camp in half again with another stunningly outlandish album. The thing about the band that one should take note of is that they never do the same thing twice. True, they have managed to craft a distinct sound that can genuinely be called "theirs," yet (much like Enslaved) this sound is always being embellished upon. On A Shadowplay For Yesterdays, we see it evolving into a much more folklore-ish territory, with the Victorian themes we all love and know the band for being taken to a new height. Read more ›› |
23.07.2012
| 23.07.2012 |
Maybe, maybe, more accessible than their previous two offerings, yet still completely unique, A Forest Of Stars didn't disappoint at all with this new gem of an album. Darkside Momo's picks | More picks ›› |
| Thumbs up: Account deleted, X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, Promonex |  |
Found in 40 lists
Top lists
Comments
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| Hendrikse Account deleted |
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| Oaken Hipster Posts: 1322  |
I'm very anticipated for this. I revisited Opportunistic a few days ago, and I found I love it even more. From what it looks like, the songs are shorter than the monolithic lengths on their previous albums, and who knows, that might turn up as a good thing.
---- In that case, man is only air as well.
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Just got the album and I'll give it a spin later tonight. Having 'Gatherer of the Pure' full blast is very good now, considering the music video is quite quiet 
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 60993  |
Just give atry and this abnd is personality, onw style, music, best BM from UK, band has avantgard touche into muisc, great harmony and melodty combinations, interesting lyrics, good album werry good and I wish it will stay more underground, this is english arcturus
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''  apos;'[image] I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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| Fredd Account deleted |
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| Kosst Amojan Posts: 9  |
This is quite different than previous album, more mellow and melodic, with less black metal shrieks from Mr. Curse and more clean, angelic vocals from Katie Stone, but I can't tell it's worse than it's predecessor. It's different, but in a good sense. Surely not a dissapointment and it's one of the better metal albums I heard this year so far.
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| Mechaniacal Posts: 107  |
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Wow really? 7.4 after 14 votes?  Looks like I'll have to sort that out.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist staff Posts: 21306  |
Personally I think this is a big step up from what I felt was a rather disappointing sophomore release in Opportunistic Thieves, but still ultimately pales in comparison to their debut.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino staff Posts: 18274  |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 25.07.2012 at 17:45 I liked their second album... but it was definitely a less awesome experience than the debut. This album, while being better than the second one is still not as brilliant as the debut. So yeah, basically... I agree with your words but maybe not with the same intensity since I didn't exactly felt the second album was a dissapointment. It definitely dserves more than 7,6 overall... what's up with that?
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| malaikat Posts: 405  |
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| Oaken Hipster Posts: 1322 |
Too many textures, styles and instruments blended in this wonderful musical project. Also the shortening of the tracks was very successful. My favorite tracks were prey tell of the church fate and gatherer of the pure.
---- In that case, man is only air as well.
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| R'Vannith ghedengi elite Posts: 3099  |
The vocalist reminds me of Fish for some reason. Even when he moves from clean to harsh it's still recognizable to me. He has a similar technique. Brilliant music too.
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| Awesomesaurus Posts: 68  |
A Prophet For A Pound Of Flesh is a killer track! 
---- Always be a poet, even in prose. A man who wants to lead the whole orchestra - must turn his back to the crowd.
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 8981  |
The snarl vocals remind me of Hanternoz. Fantastic song, I love the french-homeless-1887-vibe.
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| Oaken Hipster Posts: 1322 |
Written by Boxcar Willy on 12.08.2012 at 03:14 The riff at 3:12 is killer.
---- In that case, man is only air as well.
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress elite Posts: 5937  |
Definite contender for black metal album of 2012. Fantastic release. Prey Tell of the Church's Fate and The Underside of Eden are my favorites, but the whole album front-to-back is amazing.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Night Sight Posts: 260  |
their music is too long but good not great but good
---- Alone in birth Alone in the darkness Alone in death Alone in the daylight
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| M C Vice ex-polydactyl Posts: 3353  |
The bonus track, Dead Love, reminds me of It Can't Rain All The Time by Jane Siberry (the song on the end credits on The Crow). Hey, would the pigs on Gatherer Of The Pure count as session musicians?
---- "Another day, another Doug." "I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples." " 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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| SceneryOfLoss Posts: 196  |
Loved it, really great discovery! Somehow, it made me remember about Estatic Fear.
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| PēterisP Posts: 87  |
I am wondering if two last tracks are not a sign form AFoS, that they are moving away from BM roots. that would be a shame. Still great album - especially Gatherer of the Pure
---- Metalhead since 1987
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino staff Posts: 18274 |
Written by PēterisP on 28.08.2012 at 13:31 Lucas gave the same feelings which I share about that. He put it best in his review of their second album: Quote:
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| R'Vannith ghedengi elite Posts: 3099 |
Man's Laughter is easily my favourite track, can't go past that sound from about 16 seconds in.
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| Unhealer Eclecticist Posts: 2311  |
Liked it. It gets more melodic and better on the second half.
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| Ellrohir Heaven Knight Posts: 8662  |
All glory to the unconventional black metal 
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep 
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal contributor Posts: 5245  |
This is interesting. I will have to spin it a few more times...just to soak it all in!
---- rekt
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| basquetal Posts: 49 |
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| InnerSelf proofread free Posts: 2641  |
I like it a lot, not as much as the first two but it still is damn amazing. But if I had to pick a favorite BM album this year I'd still go with Reverence (counting Cosmosophy out since it's more Industrial than Black)
---- He who is not bold enough to be stared at from across the abyss is not bold enough to stare into it himself.
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| Draugen Posts: 499  |
Why did I not listen to this album earlier? Oh well... I had totally forgotten how absolutely brilliant this band is. Their highly unique sound creates some truly original listening experiences and A Shadowplay For Yesterdays is no exception to this. The album is at times psychedelic and twisted but at others fairly dark and sometimes straight up depressing - much due to the woeful vocals. In addition to this, what really stood out to me regarding this particular release, is how utterly beautiful it is. The guitar, flute, violin and female vocals are all contributing to a mesmerizing atmosphere which is present throughout most of the album but mainly in the second half. This was something that took me by surprise and while it is true that the band have moved away from the more prevalent black metal sound of previous releases, I for one welcome this atmospheric and experimental approach.
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| CyberSymphony Ollie Posts: 673  |
Saw this album at a special offer today and I'm glad I bought it. An excellent find and one of the most original metal albums I've heard in a while. 8/10 for now, might move up to a 9 after a few more listens.
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