A Forest Of Stars - Beware The Sword You Cannot See - review
A Forest Of Stars - Beware The Sword You Cannot See - review
Tracklist
Disc I01. Drawing Down The Rain
02. Hive Mindless
03. A Blaze Of Hammers
04. Virtus Sola Invicta
05. Proboscis Master Versus The Powdered Seraphs
06. Pawn On The Universal Chessboard, Part I: Mindslide
07. Pawn On The Universal Chessboard, Part II: Have You Got A Light, Boy?
08. Pawn On The Universal Chessboard, Part III: Perdurabo
09. Pawn On The Universal Chessboard, Part IV: An Automaton Adrift
10. Pawn On The Universal Chessboard, Part V: Lowly Worm
11. Pawn On The Universal Chessboard, Part VI: Let There Be No Light
Disc II ["Valley Of Desolation" EP - Special Boxset Only]
01. Gestation
02. Catafalque Caravan Quandary
03. Plastic Patriarch Lynch Squad (Enduring December)
A review by
Auntie Sahar March 11, 2015
All the trve earthworms should know the dilly with these British hooligans by now: Victorian England is their fascination, and they recreate their love for it both through their instrumentation and through their outlandish live performances. Beware The Sword You Cannot See, the fourth effort from this band that's now climbed to a septet, is the logical "next step" after its predecessor. Like A Showplay For Yesterdays, the music here continues to expand upon the more folky aspect of A Forest Of Stars. Bright and airy, it is both relaxing and at times very psychedelic, especially in regards to the massive six part "Pawn On The Universal Chessboard." As usual, the band have brought a goodie bag miles deep with surprises: it's a total labyrinth of sound here, and the occasional spoken word parts of Mr. Curse only make you feel even more like you're trapped in the band's surrealistic carnival ride.
While this album mostly sees A Forest Of Stars getting a lot more experimental, the band have certainly not forgotten their black metal roots either. It's nothing as dark or as sustained as the music on The Corpse Of Rebirth, but those brief, faster moments, such as on "Virtus Sola Invicta," or "Drawing Down The Rain" especially help to serve as a reminder that this band has been changing and evolving with their brand of black metal from the very beginning. The curious thing is that now, rather than their folk elements being structured around the black metal, the black metal now appears to serve more as a crescendo of sorts towards these folky moments reaching a climax, and it's an interesting transition to say the least.
Beware The Sword You Cannot See is not an easy album for a listener to digest. Like with Sigh, the sheer grandiosity of A Forest Of Stars would, under initial impressions, seem as though it would make for sloppy results. But once again, the band somehow manages to pull it all off, crafting yet another album that is brilliantly layered, paced incredibly well, and that displays a vast array of moods and emotions sure to satisfy a wide diversity of listeners. This band is definitely not slowing down anytime soon. And why should they, when they're having this much fun?
Go have that Proboscis Master impart knowledge unto thee.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 10 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | March 11, 2015
Comments
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Comments:
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Posts: 1127
Nice review. Same score here. Definitely was a grower for me...but WHAT a grower.
---- Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches. Watch metal content on the Metal Trenches YouTube Channel.
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Posts: 5989 Written by flightoficarus on 11.03.2015 at 16:25 It's definitely one of those "you notice something new with each play" albums, for sure. As is all their material, really.
---- 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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| Posts: 1127 |
Posts: 1127 Written by Auntie Sahar on 11.03.2015 at 16:51 There really is a lot going on and it's impossible to catch it all in one or two listens.
---- Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches. Watch metal content on the Metal Trenches YouTube Channel.
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Posts: 59  |
Posts: 59
Has anyone here listened to the boxset bonus EP yet? I'd consider buying it if i knew about the style/quality of those three songs.
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Posts: 5989 Written by Curumir on 11.03.2015 at 17:26 Haven't heard it yet, but I'd like to assume it's just as good. I'm sure it'll probably be floating around online soon enough
---- 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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Posts: 365  |
Posts: 365
I will listen to it today and let U know if wont forget.
---- And I see the blade fall down upon the head of lord in heaven And Darkness falls upon the end of history While I drink the milk of the Black Goddess and cry over the mankind Black Moses is my name...
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 Posts: 9126 |
Posts: 9126
I campletely agree with your review ("total labyrinth" indeed)... except for the folk part, which I don't consider to be that prevalent... I leave that to the psycheprog stuff  As for the bonus stuff, I'm still waiting for my order to arrive 
---- My Author's Blog (in French)  "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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Posts: 5989 Written by Darkside Momo on 11.03.2015 at 20:20 I think it works both ways really. The band create that progressive, psychedelic vibe mostly through those folk instruments. So you could argue it in either direction 
---- 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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Posts: 9126 Written by Auntie Sahar on 11.03.2015 at 20:46 I wouldn't consider keys a "folk instrument" (especially with that mellotron sound on "An Automaton Adrift" )Anyway, bickering just for the sake of it. This album is awesome, and that's all that counts in the end. Once again, those riffs!!!!
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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Posts: 8673
Damn, I hope the album lives up to that artwork, cos that is some pretty stunning cover art; might actually get a physical copy if I like the album. Corpse of Rebirth was great but I never got fully won over by the subsequent two - this review makes me excited again for this one
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Posts: 5989 Written by kezzapgurbuz on 12.03.2015 at 00:01 This isn't black metal?  Or just not in the way you'd like it?
---- 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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Posts: 11 Written by Auntie Sahar on 12.03.2015 at 00:03 I'm just whining that the ouroborous symbol is used to death by black metal bands. PS: Wow check it out "used to death by black metal"
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Posts: 5989 Written by kezzapgurbuz on 12.03.2015 at 00:07 You're on your way to showbiz
---- 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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Posts: 43  |
Posts: 43
Yes! A great review of the great bands' release! I hope to hear from this band some new material as soon as possible! Though I am still enjoying their new album!
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Posts: 3472
I know it's pedantic, but they were a septet son their last album, too. Bit of a shame Pawn On The Universal Chessboard isn't 1 track. Don't know why bands split songs like that.
---- "I'm here to nunchuck and not wear helmets. And I'm all out of helmets." "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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Posts: 5989 Written by M C Vice on 12.03.2015 at 10:55 It's funny, because I've seen some other people saying that they're happy it's like that. I guess I'm somewhere in between. It draws attention to the individual movements within the piece, but it's not as if they all suck or have no sense of flow, so I also wouldn't mind it being together at all.
---- 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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Posts: 5989 Written by HeavyWork on 12.03.2015 at 06:06 I love powerful openers like that that just immediately suck you in. Kinda reminds me of the impression I got when I first heard this.
---- 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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 Posts: 4326 |
Posts: 4326 Written by M C Vice on 12.03.2015 at 10:55 It serves listeners of both perspectives. Those who wish to listen to a continuous song can do so and those who don't have time for shit like that (i.e. me) can listen to each one individually
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Posts: 121  |
Posts: 121
I have TRIED to like this band but ultimately ended up deleting their songs off my CPU and considered the two album purchases a waste of money. I'm not even going to bother with this newest album. I think they are really overrated on MS.
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Posts: 5989 Written by Lionthrone on 13.03.2015 at 22:10 Care to elaborate?
---- 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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Posts: 3104
Very good review, man. Listening to it right now and it's without a doubt the most interesting and unique album of 2015 for me so far (I only listened to 15 albums or so, but still ).Yeah, I would definitely be surprised if this does not end up a 9 for me as well. Black metal, folk, great atmosphere (indeed somewhat psychedelic) and overall loads of variety to the songs. The female vocals also are a nice addition to the whole. Surprised you didn't mention those. But yeah, that's how I'd describe it after 5 songs.
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Posts: 149 Written by Lionthrone on 13.03.2015 at 22:10 Wait a minute! Are you storing data on your CPU? That is a new development. Also, why bother coming here to tell everyone that you're not going to listen to this album?
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Posts: 5161 Written by roeder on 14.03.2015 at 03:17 He's expressing why he's not going to listen to the album considering his history with the band. I find that post much more interesting and useful than yours or the myriads "GREAT ALBUM  " posts we get to read every day.
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Posts: 149 |
Posts: 149 Written by Ilham on 14.03.2015 at 08:47 I find it quite useless to tell other people about the bands you're not going to listen to in album reviews. I could do it all day, but what is the point? If it was a general discussion about the band, then i could see why he has a point.
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Posts: 5161 Written by roeder on 14.03.2015 at 12:54 And yet we're here discussing a comment you think is useless. Next time just let the guy vent, it's still on topic.
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