FORSAKEN – After The Fall

Back in the late 1960s, no one knew that Black Sabbath would have raised a new type of Metal. The reference is not aiming at Metal in general, which Sabbath contributed to its development and its nurturing. The aim is towards Doom Metal. Albums like Black Sabbath, Master Of Reality, Paranoid and other 1970s gems of “on the rise” Doom Metal albums which were not just mere Heavy Metal / Hard Rock snacks. They served as a foundation to what everyone called Traditional Doom Metal. Bands like Candlemass, Witchfinder General, Memento Mori, Trouble and others went and flourished this type of dark and gloomy music. You can see that this type of Doom Metal is not the type most presented in the present times, which is a type of Doom Metal music with Extreme Metal substances; this is the real classic thing.

Forsaken, from the island of Malta, has taken the course of Black Sabbath’s gloomy doomy music just as Candlemass, Pentagram and Memento Mori did. Since they switched their Metal subgenre from Progressive Metal (named once Blind Alley) to Traditional Doom Metal in the early 1990s, they were seriously influenced and captivated by the charms of Sabbath from the 1970s and the 1980s. Their new album After The Fall is not their first attempt, being released after three full lengths and a couple of EPs is only a continuation of their earlier works.

Within their works, Forsaken, under the influence of Sabbath, evolved their compositions a bit by adding epical elements. With these they were able to create interesting stories regarding the ancient times of Christianity and its following wars. Their focus, if you listen carefully to their lyrics, concentrates mainly on religion and its attributes. The additions of epics, and not just by the length of the tracks, with Sabbath’s pattern of music, Forsaken has made the doomy trip a rather enjoyable one> Although there are parts of songs such as on “Vanguards Of The Void”, “Armida’s Kiss” and “The Sage” which are more or less empty in a sort of sense because the music is slow and standing still without any continuance.

The helping hand on these dead moments is the band’s vocalist, Leo Stivala, who keeps everything in check and with his chants and gospel he is able to keep the listener under the band’s wing. Moreover, the lead guitarist, Sean Vukovic, also maintains interest with Iommi like solos, mostly heard on Sabbath’s later releases in the 1980s albums, with remarkable efficiency. His energy on the rhythm section also contributes to After The Fall’s essence of Traditional Doom alongside his two other band mates on the drums and bass who are equally great.

With their songs, Forsaken has elevated the Sabbath gloomy notes into something a bit more atmospheric, story-like and mysterious. Songs like “Black Sabbath” and “Headless Cross” can be noticed here on super great doomsters as “Aidenn Falls” and “”Dies Irae (Day Of Wrath)”.

Other tracks worth mentioning are the great instrumental “The Lord Sayeth”, which serves as an impeccable intro. “Sins Of The Tempter” – A high refined Christian Metal song with an amazing quality. “Vanguards Of The Void”, “Armida’s Kiss” and “The Sage” are solid tracks and have both semi-melodic and strong sections, yet they tend to be a bit heavy weight like and have the characteristic of boring new listeners. In order not to fall in line and leave this piece to rot in your collection, you have to understand the meaning of Doom Metal to have a chance of finding any interest within these particular tracks.

The best track without a doubt is “Aidenn Falls”, it has energies rarely seen in an Old Doom Metal style acts and serves as a great intro to the story told.