Dark Forest – Land Of The Evening Star

Releasedate: 08-03-2012; Label: Bleak Art Records
By: Martine Goffard

Dark Forest is a black pagan band from Canada, which explains their references and affection to the forests, the dark skies full of stars and the aurora borealis. Their second album, Land Of The Evening Star, stays on the same themes and relates the discovery of the New World by the Vikings. Before starting the description of the album, there is a point that has to be mentioned. The official copy I received was totally ruined by a copyright message “You are listening to…” which appears at least three or four times on each song of the album. It’s absolutely impossible to concentrate on the music and enjoy it. I do not understand that the company sends such a crappy version to make the promotion of their album. It’s exactly as if a painter had signed his name all over his painting and it’s as enjoyable as watching a tragic movie with advertisements all the fifteen minutes. On top of it, I noticed that one song is missing. I finished listening to the whole album only by respect for the band.

Concerning the album, the travel of the Northmen trough the mist, on cold waters is well recreated. The atmosphere is heavy, unpleasant and overflows with mystery. The singer’s voice alternates between shrieks and deep-throat murmurs, accompanied sometimes by clear male choirs. We can enjoy long, oppressive passages of guitar and the metallic vibrations of the jew’s-harp. Land Of The Evening Star is an interesting album to listen to if you have the opportunity to find a good version.

Line-up:
David Parks – All instruments, vocals

Live Line-up:
David Parks – Guitar & vocals
Mark Zemlak – Guitar
TJ MacLean – Bass Guitar
Don Mitchell – Keyboards
Griffin Kissack – Drums

Tracklist: 01. Rediscovery of the New World 02. Like Towers They Reach to the Sky 03. Vesperia 04. A Few Acres of Snow 05. Hearth 06. Northmen of the New World 07. Árborg 08. Bjarne Herjúlfsson ca. 985CE

Links:
Dark Forest Facebook