A Forest Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring - review
A Forest Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring - review
Tracklist
01. Sorrow's Impetus02. Raven's Eye View
03. Summertide's Approach
04. Thunder's Cannonade
05. Starfire's Memory
06. Delay's Progression
A review by
Lucas June 04, 2010
My fear has turned out to be groundless. At least, for now. Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring is in many ways darker, blacker and stronger than its predecessor.
But let's start with what we already know: Mr Curse still possesses his manic shriek, judging by the wolf-like howl uttered in the opening of "Sorrow's Impetus". He might very well be one of the most hateful shriekers in recent years. He sounds like a crossbreed of Varg, Kvarforth and Marco Kehren, yummy! Something else that's still the same - the odd, estranging vibe. A Forest Of Stars also retained their knack for effortlessly jumping between styles and moods. So far, so good.
As I said, Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring is a much darker album. Its riffs are heavier, doomier than before and the violin is less dominant and more cooperative. It actually sounds a little close to Depressive Black metal at times. Check the opening of "Starfire's Memory" for an example, there's some fantastic ambient darkness to be found there. And just to throw in a nice cliché for good measure, it sounds quite a lot more 'mature' than its predecessor. Yey me for originality. A teeny tiny bit of criticism: it's slightly less adventurous then the debut.
It doesn't take me by surprise as much as the debut that, but that's completely natural of course. A Forest Of Stars has once again released a fresh, unique album that'll stand out for years to come. And as long as bands like this stay within the realms of Black metal, the genre has a bright future. Reach for the stars for A Forest Of Stars!
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 8 |
Comments
Comments:
19
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352 users
| !J.O.O.E.!
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Posts: 767  |
Posts: 767
Cheesy ending  Sounds interesting though, definitely something to check out.
---- 
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 Posts: 4774 |
Posts: 4774
>Cheesy ending +1 but thanks for the review
---- loves 小巫
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 Posts: 13427 |
Posts: 13427
Yeah reading back the ending IS cheesy. Sorry guys. Excuse me while I blast Manowar.
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?  "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Posts: 4774 |
Posts: 4774
Listening to it right now and found your description v accurate as always. I'll probably end up liking this one more than their debut
---- loves 小巫
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 Posts: 21306 |
Posts: 21306
Thanks for reviewing this - not as good as their debut in my opinion, but it's still a very strong release. Those vocals are just haunting!
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 398  |
Posts: 398
Has anyone watch the new video they've released? I think it's pretty fucking amazing and goes really well with the music.
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Posts: 711  |
Posts: 711
Good news, I was also worrying that they would stray from their Black Metal side and experiment some more. As always thanks for the review. But I still didn't decide which I prefer more this or their debut.
---- Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.
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 Posts: 323 |
Posts: 323
Nice review Im not a black metal fan, but I like some bands and A Forest of Stars is one of them and I wasnt so patience to listen to their new album. and its nice again as good as their debut and maybe better in some ways. I think they are not an absolute black metal band. "Starfire's Memory" is a pure black metal song? I dont think so. and all of their songs have some special space, I dont know which is better to call, black doom metal? black gothic metal? avant-grade black metal? or as metal archives has written, Psychedelic Black Metal? anyway, genre doesnt matter so much hehe
---- Kiss my ass if you dont like me, I dont care.
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 Posts: 2574 |
Posts: 2574
Opportunistic Thieves of Spring! What a title. I will check it out just because of that. Well, the review makes it sound promising too.
---- Savor what you feel and what you see Things that may not seem important now But may be tomorrow R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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Posts: 1376  |
Posts: 1376
To be honest, I found this album better than the debut. As you wrote, it wasn't as surprising as I expected, but more layered in darkness. Something eerie and pleasing going on in these songs. Great fucking album, don't hesitate to buy it, Dudes!
---- That rug really tied the room together, did it not? 
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Posts: 1376 |
Posts: 1376
Oh yeah, almost forgot! How does that fire feel running down your back?! I love ''Thunder's Cannonade'', it's simply perfect!
---- That rug really tied the room together, did it not?
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Posts: 711 |
Posts: 711
This is a great album, and this album can only be defined as crushing Black Metal, the riffs are heavy and doomy. On my first listen I actually thought that I was listening to another band by mistake >.< It doesn't bother me that they altered their sound on the contrary I welcome with open arms fresh and original outputs. 
---- Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.
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| !J.O.O.E.!
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| !J.O.O.E.!
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 Posts: 647 |
Posts: 647
Just got around to listening to this. Awesome. Some great atmosphere in here.
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 Posts: 2801 |
Posts: 2801
This got my vote for the MS awards after going back and forth between this release and Enslaved's I realized I like this more "and enslaved were going to win anyway  "
---- 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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 Posts: 5989 |
Posts: 5989
"Reach for the stars for A Forest Of Stars!" Lol fanboy But really, great review, and a really interesting band too. I kinda got into these guys after checking out Oranssi Pazuzu, so as quite a fan of out-of-the-box black metal, I'm sure this album will be a worthwhile addition to my collection
---- 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: 64528 |
Posts: 64528
I have to agree about viola, still avant garde BM but indeed I did not hear so much viola
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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