Fen - The Malediction Fields

A great Atmospheric Black Metal Album,costs as musch as agalloch's albums.....

This album is great, one of my favorites from last year, the atmosphere is great, I just love this kind of Black Metal.

Undeniably one of my top 10 albums of 2009.
Black metal with very gloomy yet magnificent atmospheric parts.

A great album

No review for this yet? And surprisingly few votes either, few more and it could knock that bland Be'lakor album off the top of 2009. Then again maybe not if the limit is 25 votes.

Quite an excellent album. While not exactly the most original thing in the world (as one reviewer so adequately put it, it feels like Agalloch and Amesoeurs combined), what is recorded is quite sturdy and magnificent. The Watcher is quite an excellent singer, and the atmospheres are really nailed down well. Very shoe-gazey black metal-- makes me wonder what it would be like if this kind of group combined with a band like Kroda, a sound very centred on atmospheres as well...
Funny how back then it seemed so original and not bland, looking at Joe's comment. But now...it's something every group is doing, in my honest opinion. While the lyrics are excellent and the Watcher is an exciting figure, I can't see anything very original with it. I've seen people give their newest one a poor grade, but I'm currently listening to a demo of one song and it sounds like the band is progressing further...I'll have to check it out. BUT...the Maledicition Fields deserves a strong 8. If only it defied more boundaries and experimented further... then it would be truly worthy of a 9 or a 10.

Amazing Album

Excellent album. This really surprised me, since I never suspected it to be this great.

Ok now, don't kill me but...
...is this album as good as Dustwalker?

Written by tea[m]ster on 04.04.2013 at 17:54

Ok now, don't kill me but...
...is this album as good as Dustwalker?

You might not think so because this isn't as much of a post-fest as Dustwalker but to me this trounces it on every level.

Basically if you found the first track on Dustwalker to be the best track on the album then you will love this.

Written by [user id=4365] on 04.04.2013 at 18:55

You might not think so because this isn't as much of a post-fest as Dustwalker but to me this trounces it on every level.

Basically if you found the first track on Dustwalker to be the best track on the album then you will love this.

I am listening to the first track off this album as I am writing this. Wow. Love it. Tremendous aura and atmosphere. Hope the rest of the album is this good. Thanks again JOOE!

Written by [user id=4365] on 04.04.2013 at 18:55

Basically if you found the first track on Dustwalker to be the best track on the album then you will love this.

Would I like Altar Of Plagues? Never listened to them.

Written by tea[m]ster on 18.04.2013 at 19:32

Would I like Altar Of Plagues? Never listened to them.

Honestly, it's been so long since I listened to them I really couldn't give you an honest answer. Lots of people dig them so I imagine there's a big chance you will too.

Written by tea[m]ster on 18.04.2013 at 19:32

Would I like Altar Of Plagues? Never listened to them.

try their album Mammal, I think it might be up your ally.

Written by [user id=4365] on 04.04.2013 at 18:55

Written by tea[m]ster on 04.04.2013 at 17:54

Ok now, don't kill me but...
...is this album as good as Dustwalker?

You might not think so because this isn't as much of a post-fest as Dustwalker but to me this trounces it on every level.

Basically if you found the first track on Dustwalker to be the best track on the album then you will love this.

I haven't listened to Dustwalker yet, but Epoch sounded goddamn boring compared to this. However, subsequent listens are needed since this is just my first impression. I assume Dustwalker and Epoch are about the same kind of albums?

Written by Erik M. on 21.04.2013 at 17:49

I haven't listened to Dustwalker yet, but Epoch sounded goddamn boring compared to this. However, subsequent listens are needed since this is just my first impression. I assume Dustwalker and Epoch are about the same kind of albums?

Yeah I would say so really. Dustwalker maybe has one or two tracks like the ones on this but overall it was a snorrefest.

I've listened to this whole album 5 times in the last 3 days. So good for a debut record. Although the cleans are a little weak and the production is so-so, the album just reeks of aura and desolation. If I ever made a list of best closing songs Bereft would be near the top. What an ender.

Despite some iffy male vocals in some of the songs, the rest of the album is excellent.

I positively love this album. For me it's definitely their best, though I enjoy their other works too (their newest one not so much, but it has its moments). Songs like "Bereft" and "The Warren" get me going every time.

This is English, Immortal, Arcturus, Ulver and bands like that what sees nature ate true BM message not St. Ann, you can see, look at song titles even before listening band and tell its will be a good album and it was

Got this album a few months ago. Super solid

01. Exile's Journey: This song really caught me with the strings. Also, there was good use of the ride cymbal. Reminded me of an airy Alcest.

02. A Witness To The Passing Of Aeons: This song is much darker than its predecessor and more mid-tempo. Vocals reminded me of Aggalloch here. The guitar solo was great.

03. Colossal Voids: This song has a much more melancholy feel while still being heavy at some parts. I like how the piano was incorporated towards the end of the song, but I wish It carried over the whole time instead of starting, stopping, then starting again.

04. As Buried Spirits Stir:The bass was much more noticeable here. I really liked the acoustic guitar solo over the vocals.

05. The Warren: This song had great progression, but still kept me guessing. I really liked the clean vocals.

06. Lashed By Storm: I really enjoyed the use of ride cymbal and bass in this song. It's pretty incredible how they were still able to incorporate prominent bass in the heavier parts.

07. Bereft: This may sounds weird, but the clean vocals at the beginning made me think of Demons & Wizards. I like how they made the drums sound heavier without using too much snare or double bass.

Favorite track: Lashed By the Storm
Least Favorite Track: Colossal Voids

This band has been an impressive discovery for me recently. What an album this is, a great blend of atmospheric black and post-rock with some real great emotive moments. "Colossal Voids", "As Buried Spirits Stir", and "Lashed by Storm" stand-out above all for me.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 27.02.2024 at 22:36

This band has been an impressive discovery for me recently. What an album this is, a great blend of atmospheric black and post-rock with some real great emotive moments. "Colossal Voids", "As Buried Spirits Stir", and "Lashed by Storm" stand-out above all for me.

Yeah this was a great debut; if you're looking to explore Fen further, I've always been partial to Carrion Skies, but the most recent one and the record that came after this (Epoch) are also decent (people like Winter, and I do too, but it is patience-testingly long)

Written by musclassia on 27.02.2024 at 22:52


Yeah this was a great debut; if you're looking to explore Fen further, I've always been partial to Carrion Skies, but the most recent one and the record that came after this (Epoch) are also decent (people like Winter, and I do too, but it is patience-testingly long)

In that case I'll give Carrion Skies and Epoch a listen, and will try and make time for Winter. I've listened to the last year release and really liked it, not as much as this debut but it still impressed me. Thanks for the recommendations

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 28.02.2024 at 07:42

Written by musclassia on 27.02.2024 at 22:52


Yeah this was a great debut; if you're looking to explore Fen further, I've always been partial to Carrion Skies, but the most recent one and the record that came after this (Epoch) are also decent (people like Winter, and I do too, but it is patience-testingly long)

In that case I'll give Carrion Skies and Epoch a listen, and will try and make time for Winter. I've listened to the last year release and really liked it, not as much as this debut but it still impressed me. Thanks for the recommendations

To me song Nr2. are brilliant masterpiece, this is their best no doubts about that
https://metalstorm.net/pub/interview.php?interview_id=747&page=&message_id=

Written by Bad English on 28.02.2024 at 09:47

To me song Nr2. are brilliant masterpiece, this is their best no doubts about that
https://metalstorm.net/pub/interview.php?interview_id=747&page=&message_id=

Great interview, thanks for sharing it with us