ALBUM REVIEW: Lightning In The Ashes – Forged In Black
British Heavy Metal. There’s nothing like it. The forefathers of BLACK SABBATH and JUDAS PRIEST shredded so we at Distorted Sound could exist. IRON MAIDEN became one of British metal’s greatest exports. With a pedigree such as that while existing in the same realm as the almighty Ronnie James Dio, the pressure is on for up and coming British heavy metal. Facing this gauntlet are FORGED IN BLACK with their new release Lightning In The Ashes.
Not an entirely new band. Lightning In The Ashes follows an acclaimed, though not well known, Descent Of The Serpent (2019). Nevertheless FORGED IN BLACK claim to offer a fresh slab of the heaviest of metal across ten tracks. A bold claim, yes, but can they deliver on it? Be One With The Fire counts into ferocious guitars and Kieron Rochester’s bassline runs rampant. However, we’ve heard it all before and decidedly in a lot more exciting fashion. Chris Storozynski’s vocals try to emulate those of Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio yet fall incredibly short. He’s not a bad vocalist by any means, this track just isn’t as “blood enticing” as we expected.
The title track holds a little more promise at its inception but we notice something which runs throughout the album. It sounds very flat as if compressed within an inch of its life. Bass tones aren’t heard but the twang of the strings let us know they’re there. “Unleash the lightning bolt” houses a grating harmony which sets us on edge. So far, this album doesn’t electrify us. This sentiment carries slightly into Dusk Breather, but we appreciate the edge of a snarl on certain lines. It also houses a good rhythm to bob the head to. Meanwhile the solo from Andy Songhurst may be a touch light for the sentiment of the track but how can we resist a good guitar squeal?
Dark Lord Requiem’s heavy double kick from Kev Rochester is a sound to behold. We brace ourselves for a fast and heavy swinging metal song but the groove which comes kills the momentum slightly. It’s still a good instrumental but when the pace is slowed further still for a chorus section so Storozynski can unfurl his vocal wings, it comes as a detriment to what FORGED IN BLACK are trying to achieve. The acoustic intro of War Torn Skull is reminiscent of metal days gone by, yet this bleeds into an electric riff akin to METALLICA’s Creeping Death. The thrash element is a welcome change. Yet we run into the same problem with the bass lines and wonder what’s going on. Perplexion continues when the usual guitar solo is carried out on an acoustic guitar. An amazing feat to solo on an acoustic, but when in the depths of a largely electric intro it baffles the mind.
Chains Of The Damned again float by with little consequence bar the barking vocals within the closing section. Then Building A Beast’s acoustic introduction has us looking at the tracklist, somewhat dismayed about how much is left to still sift through. It again feels compressed while the solo adds no real direction. Brother’s Keeper however garners some interest with the tale of sibling rivalry gone a touch too far. It happens, right? The instrumental contains a decent enough riff but there is again little to take it from a passable track.
We try not to be inherently negative about a body of work. Making an album is incredibly difficult, especially within the ol’ cost of living crisis. This would have held water in terms of the production value were this the band’s first output. It isn’t however. It’s a shame as Hellucinator is a good song. The opening riff is hefty but doesn’t have the full-bodied tones this “omnipresent eye” needs. Delving deep into the realms of Hell and how we can be so easily influenced to follow the path of evil, FORGED IN BLACK fails to capitalise on what could have been a wonderful tribute to some of the acts noted previously. Yes, there is a heavy breakdown beneath a typically metal scream, but the edge is taken away by a short acoustic section which has no real business being involved in this particular dance with the Dark Lord.
With the British metal scene producing some of the best music in the global pantheon at the moment, it is sorely noticeable when something isn’t up to par. This is where FORGED IN BLACK sits. Rather than positive or negative opinions, we’re left with indifference. It was simply something we listened to. Granted, four years have passed since Descent Of The Serpent but Lightning In The Ashes feels desperately underbaked. There are moments where FORGED IN BLACK have potential to be more than good or decent but for now this is where they dwell.
Rating: 4/10
Lightning In The Ashes is out now via Fighter Records.
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