Forefather - Steadfast - review
Forefather - Steadfast - review
Tracklist
01. Brunanburh02. Cween Of The Mark
03. Theodish Belief
04. Hallowed Halls
05. Steadfast
06. Three Great Ships
07. Eostre
08. Fire From The Sky
09. Mellowing Of The Mains
10. Wolfhead's Tree
11. Miri It Is
A review by
Baz Anderson August 29, 2008
Forefather have finally released an album that is complete, compact and very solid. This is folk metal with an epic touch and with a step away from the slight black metal side, the grandeur is even more apparent. Consistency is a big key to "Steadfast" also, never before has Forefather been so engaging and thorough throughout an entire album, producing and delivering the goods with each track present. Individual tracks have their own stamp, their own tempo and feel to them. "Cween Of The Mark" and "Hallowed Halls" provide fantastic up-beat adventures whereas the title track "Steadfast" is more of a methodical, mid-tempo galloping affair which is just as enjoyable and also shows a more mature side to Forefather which has always been there, but never so articulated as well as this is pulled off here.
Before when listening to Forefather on previous albums, the main downside would most likely have been the fake-sounding drums which were programmed in through a computer of some sorts and plonked unimaginatively on top of the rest of the music. This problem has been eradicated for "Steadfast" as a real fleshy, squishy, breathing human was sat behind a real drum kit for this album, and this one change alone makes the world of difference for the overall sound and professional presentation of the two-man English duo. Production-wise the album sounds good, although there seems to be a distinct lack of bass which can make listening to the album on some devices quite impossible, but given you are not listening to the album on tiny mp3 player earphones there are no problems with the production.
Over the years Forefather have grown and evolved and this has never been so apparent as with "Steadfast". The whole album gleams with a metallic, folky shine. Not the happy-clappy, cheesy kind of folk either, this is a more of a serious affair that has been pulled off brilliantly not to sound over the top or too pretentious. The album boasts songs that will stick inside your head for a long time; "Fire From The Sky" is a good one at that, also the title track and others mentioned above.
This is a band at the peak of their evolution thus far, and with a solid and concise album has produced one of the folk metal highlights of the year. A real epic opus that keeps its head firmly attached at all times, and as long as you have your head firmly attached, an album that can be thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end many times. Well worth getting.
Written on 29.08.2008 by
Written on 29.08.2008 by
Member of Staff since 2006 Comments
Comments:
18
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Posts: 8292
Spot on Barry, great review! Forefather have continued to impress me by releasing good album after good album!
---- "Scream for me Melbourne!!!!" - Bruce Dickinson "I don't see any god up here" - Yuri Gagarin (while in orbit, 1961)
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Posts: 4795
I was waiting for Steadfast... and totally forgot to check it !!! It's been out since February it seems lol...
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| VELVET (O)
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At first listen, sounds like a good album. I'll give even more attention cause I believe it's better than good!  Thanks for the nice review man!
---- It is humanity who must pay homage to the greatness of the Universe... not the Universe to the human narcissism. 
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Posts: 266
The best one with the Equilibrium's Sagas at the moment in this year for me.
---- http://enumaelis.blogspot.com/
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Posts: 9720 Written by enumaelis on 31.08.2008 at 22:57 Word! At least in folk metal. And yep, very spot on review indeed!
---- All life begins with Nu and ends with Nu... This is the truth! This is my belief! ...At least for now. - The Mystery of Life, Vol. 841 Ch. 26
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| Scyld Scefing
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Scyld Scefing
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Simply the best! Inspirational fpr all English Nationalists and Folk metal lovers.Ride on to Valhalla  Til biþ se þe his treowe gehealdeþ (good is he who keeps faith)
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Nice review, though I believe that the drums are still the awkward part of Forefather's music.
---- Having a signature is an absolute must.
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Posts: 8703
Whoa...must check this!
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep 
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Posts: 435  |
Posts: 435
Just discovered these guys...and I'm glad I did. Amazing release and one of my favs of the genre.
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Posts: 847
One of my all-time black/folk favs, plus their medieval anglo-saxon theme is quite unique in the folk scene. Check this out, dudes!
---- Notre destinée n'est pas encore tracée....
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