ALBUM REVIEW: Nihilistic Estrangement – Forgotten Tomb
The evolution of FORGOTTEN TOMB could be likened to that of SATYRICON. Musically, the Italians and the Norwegians couldn’t be further apart, but similarities can be found in the approach taken to their development. Both rose to prominence and made their mark with works of highly influential, relatively raw and emotional black metal – albeit working from different palettes – before eventually evolving into cleaner, more streamlined and, dare it be said, commercial-sounding entities. FORGOTTEN TOMB played a vital role in the creation of depressive suicidal black metal in their early years. Fast-forward to 2020 and Nihilistic Estrangement. The same core members of Herr Morbid, Algol and Asher remain at the helm and the song titles and topics are just as miserable. The band are keen to point out that this new opus aims to reference all the band’s periods while being “very refreshing and extremely personal”. Continuing their habit of working in trilogies, this 10th record manifestly marks a departure from 2017’s We Owe You Nothing – which closed the previous three-album run – and “opens a new chapter and possibly a new trilogy”.
Opener Active Shooter is a mid-paced and crunchy number with a melodic chorus and melodious lead guitar work. Straight away, one of the most significant aspects of the album becomes apparent. According to the group, recording was done the old-fashioned way, using vintage microphones from the 60s and 70s, instruments from the 80s and analogue recording equipment. As a result, this is a much warmer-sounding release, triggering a desire to listen to it on vinyl to achieve the full effect.
Iris’ House Pt. I features a slide guitar melody and an altogether doomier atmosphere, but continues to surf safely above the abyss instead of plunging the listener headfirst into it. The effect is somewhat better achieved in Pt. II, where the slide is replaced with a dissonant and unsettling guitar line. This track succeeds in boosting the desolation levels, making for a much bleaker listening experience.
District3 drags us back into relatively lighter waters, albeit with strangely disjointed sections before culminating in a joyous, triumphant lead break that is as surprising as it is welcome. Next up we have the title track and album single, Nihilistic Estrangement, by far the longest song on the album scraping the nine-minute mark. Straight away, 2003’s masterpiece Springtime Depression springs to mind, with the clean and downtrodden guitars reminding the listener of where this band came from, albeit without quite reaching the same dramatic and emotional depths.
Closing track RBMK – surely a nod to all ‘Chernobyl’ fans out there – is a suitably chaotic and aggressive number, with a much more Second Wave black metal vibe to accompany the predictably destructive lyrical topic and end the album on a high note.
FORGOTTEN TOMB describe the track-list of Nihilistic Estrangement as ‘eclectic’, ranging from “eerily dark blues/rock passages” through to “different shades of extreme doom”. As a whole, the former elements are much more noticeable than the latter, with the doom elements remaining generally quite safe and nonthreatening. While aurally gorgeous and significantly varied, the seasoned black or doom metal listener will struggle to find much to sink their fangs into on this one.
Rating: 5/10
Nihilistic Estrangement is set for release May 8th via Agonia Records.
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