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Dark Forest - Beyond The Veil review



Reviewer:
6.0

24 users:
8.12
Band: Dark Forest
Album: Beyond The Veil
Release date: August 2016


01. On The Edge Of Twilight
02. Where The Arrow Falls
03. Autumn's Crown
04. Blackthorn
05. Lunantishee
06. The Wild Hunt
07. Earthbound
08. The Undying Flame
09. Mên-An-Tol
10. Beyond The Veil
11. Ellylldan
12. The Lore Of The Land

Yeah, I like classic Elvenking, too. Apparently, someone in Dark Forest likes it so much they decided to clone it.

The best part is that they don't even try to hide it. I mean, even the cover art is an awkwardly obvious rip-off of Wyrd. It's the same damn walking tree! The same. Musically, it's that same bare and simple production of early 2000s folk/power metal with happy, skippy tunes, tell-tale early Elvenking guitarwork, and our old friend Kleid on vocals. No, wait, it's just a dude who sounds the same as Kleid.

If you're just super-duper addicted to Elvenking and want more more more more, then consider Elvenprince here as a poor man's version to get your fun, folksy fix. The 6-point rating represents earned points from their high energy performances and genuine level of fun in the music, though I considered disqualifying them entirely from any numerical rating due to the rip-off factor. In the end Elvenduke embodies the jovial music of their King without any of the memorable melodies. You may have a rollicking 'ole time listening to Beyond the Heathenreel, but you won't be left humming a single tune.

If there was a single original idea on this record then they may have received some bonus points. As far as derivative homage albums go, it's quite enjoyable. Good fun was had by all, and the replica is quite accurate. Now, genre albums can indeed be brilliant, even without any original ideas, but this Beyond The Wyrd is just one of the most blatant direct copies that I've ever encountered; coupled with that cover art, I have to shake my head at Elvenmiddlemanager's audacity. If they were trying to represent a GENRE then that'd be entirely understood. If they just wore their influences on their sleeves then that may be partially understood. Instead, they cloned one very specific era of one very specific band. And waved a big green flag in our face to make sure we saw. I'm left wondering... is this actually a joke? Are Elvenstepson just messing with us to see if we'll notice?





Written on 25.07.2016 by Susan appreciates quality metal regardless of sub-genre. Metal Storm Staff since 2006.

Twitter: @HeavyMetalSusan


Comments

Comments: 16   Visited by: 184 users
25.07.2016 - 14:28
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Sounds good, but I need figure out what you meant by ''copying Wyrd lol at 1th place
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25.07.2016 - 17:14
Susan
Smeghead
Written by Bad English on 25.07.2016 at 14:28

Sounds good, but I need figure out what you meant by ''copying Wyrd lol at 1th place


It's the name of Elvenking's 2nd album.
----
"A life all mine
Is what I choose
At the end of my days"
--The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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25.07.2016 - 17:16
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Susan on 25.07.2016 at 17:14

Written by Bad English on 25.07.2016 at 14:28

Sounds good, but I need figure out what you meant by ''copying Wyrd lol at 1th place


It's the name of Elvenking's 2nd album.


well I remember when Viggo or what is his name now here from Estonia, aka Frodo, Ernis once talked we and Mike Hotel had same re action, because 1th what comes in mind is band from Finland
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
25.07.2016 - 18:22
UnknownCheese

Artwork is way better than the Elvenking one.

It's been a long time since I've heard any Dark Forest, but I remember them being more of a traditional metal band than a folk one.
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25.07.2016 - 18:28
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by UnknownCheese on 25.07.2016 at 18:22

Artwork is way better than the Elvenking one.


Absolutely and is in the style of their previous albums.

Quote:

It's been a long time since I've heard any Dark Forest, but I remember them being more of a traditional metal band than a folk one.


Same here. What I remember is that they had some very slight folk influences and those were quintessentially English folk influences in their NWOBHM styled traditional heavy metal.
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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26.07.2016 - 14:30
MétalNoir
Fils du Lys
Elvenmiddlemanager
----
Notre destinée n'est pas encore tracée....
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31.07.2016 - 13:06
thefallenalchmst

Second Opinion:

Load of BS, Susan. I believe I've listened to the record three times already for a publication review, and if I heard any Elvenking at all, it was faint. There are no "extra" instruments as you may find on an Elvenking record, just guitars, drums, bass and vocals. The same setup as the last disc. Record had a lot of strong melodies as their last, coupled with powerful vocal and choral moments. To me, this is just as good as their past album, even if lyrically it didn't really gel with me as much as "The Awakening" did. You're entitled to your opinion as a reviewer, as well as your observation, but I think you're steering fans in the wrong direction. I felt more Skyclad in this than I would've Elvenking. It feels like English folk-inspired metal with a touch on the medieval side.

Elvenking to me were always okay, but this one was much better than what I've heard from those guys (Not that big a fan, really) and frankly, I'd have to recommend it. I will add that it took a few listens to really get into the disc, and it is really fucking long, so that can be a detriment. Not sure how many times you listen to records for review, but I had to let this one soak in a while, while aimlessly browsing social media nonsense. It's not "The Awakening" but it's no average 6.0 either. I gave it an 8.0.
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www.thegrimtower.com (updated ftequently with reviews and interviews!)

www.torii.bandcamp.com (black/doom/death)
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05.08.2016 - 12:35
DJBear666

Damn am sooo disappointed I expected the new album to be more like the last one which doesn't remind me of Elvenking but I pre-ordered this and paid for it am gutted.
----
!!!!They say that life's a carousel Spinning fast, you gotta ride it well The world is full of Kings and Queens Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams It's Heaven and Hell, oh well !!!!
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05.08.2016 - 14:14
DJBear666

Thought about this some more and realised that Vexillum who do sound like Elvenking, they also have a cover with a tree on the Bivouac album o.O

However I do feel better for reading the second opinion from thefallenalchmst, especially with the mention of Skyclad
----
!!!!They say that life's a carousel Spinning fast, you gotta ride it well The world is full of Kings and Queens Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams It's Heaven and Hell, oh well !!!!
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05.08.2016 - 21:11
Susan
Smeghead
Written by DJBear666 on 05.08.2016 at 12:35

Damn am sooo disappointed I expected the new album to be more like the last one which doesn't remind me of Elvenking but I pre-ordered this and paid for it am gutted.


I hope you end up loving it Perhaps you'll hear something I didn't.
----
"A life all mine
Is what I choose
At the end of my days"
--The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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25.08.2016 - 00:37
LuciferOfGayness
Account deleted
Is this a review?
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25.08.2016 - 01:03
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
Written by Guest on 25.08.2016 at 00:37

Is this a review?

Is it just fantasy?
----
"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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25.08.2016 - 01:17
LuciferOfGayness
Account deleted
Written by Karlabos on 25.08.2016 at 01:03

Written by Guest on 25.08.2016 at 00:37

Is this a review?

Is it just fantasy?

Probably fantasy. Looks like the reviewer was on a hell of a trip when she wrote this. She is compairing apples and pears and calls the pears a clone of the apples. Trippy
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02.09.2016 - 10:06
DJBear666

Written by Susan on 05.08.2016 at 21:11

Written by DJBear666 on 05.08.2016 at 12:35

Damn am sooo disappointed I expected the new album to be more like the last one which doesn't remind me of Elvenking but I pre-ordered this and paid for it am gutted.


I hope you end up loving it Perhaps you'll hear something I didn't.




Well that's it I have played all the traicks now (have only heard them as I airplay them live on the radio) and I am pleased to be able to report that no Elvenking feel for me when listening (unlike with Vexhillum), it's more or less what sound I was expected from them. I'll have to listen to the tracks more to see if I think that The Awakening was better or not but I must say the epic track of the album is very epic and I noted another strong track, can't remember which one, will play them a lot more, I'll have to see over time:thumbup:.
----
!!!!They say that life's a carousel Spinning fast, you gotta ride it well The world is full of Kings and Queens Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams It's Heaven and Hell, oh well !!!!
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02.09.2016 - 20:45
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Just found out that the cover art was done by Duncan Storr, who did quite a few Skycald covers.
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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19.04.2022 - 09:16
Rating: 9
nefredil

This review is full of crap. Beyond the Veil is magnificent, rhytmic, melodic and in some ways atmospheric album. I know a lot of people who enjoyed it, myself included.
----
First rule of making alliance with the Devil? Don't do it.
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