Friday, March 7, 2014

Forest Stream - "The Crown Of Winter" [2009]

Artist: Forest Stream
Title: The Crown Of Winter
Genre: Symphonic Black/Doom Metal
Country: Russia
Year: 2009

Track List:
  1. Intro (Feral Magic)
  2. The Crown Of Winter
  3. Mired
  4. Bless You To Die
  5. Autumn Dancers
  6. The Seventh Symphony Of Satan
  7. The Beautiful Nature
  8. Outro (My Awakening Dreamland)
Forest Stream are among the most long-standing and best known Russian doom metal bands. Formed in 1995, they initially were highly influenced by Katatonia and British death/doom bands. First I heard them on some pirate MP3 compilation I bought roughly 7-8 years ago, which included their debut album "Tears of Mortal Solitide" (2003). This one is a follow-up album (and their latest one up to date). They took a more progressive vibe on there, drawing influences from Opeth and Emperor. The atmosphere is great, as well as the musicianship and the vocal work (especially the clean vocals). This could be an excellent release, although the atmospheric parts sound a bit too lengthy and "filler"-ish to me. Maybe it doesn't get on the level of "Omnio" by In The Woods (to whom Forest Stream are often compared), but it's still one of the best progressive doom metal releases to come from the Russian metal scene.

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