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Forefather: Steadfast
10/03/08 || Euthanatos
Nothing ever changes with Forefather, other than the fact that they keep getting better at what they do. But these guys are firm believers in the folk/pagan/viking/anglo-saxon metal that they perform. And I love it. I really like the constant shift to more clean vocals being used throughout their records. I think the epic shouting is a lot more coherent with their sound than growls. Not that the growls are bad, they’re great, but the way they approached things in “Steadfast”, with a healthy balance, is ideal.
Listen to “Hallowed Halls” for instance. It’s practically all clean vocals, yet nothing of Forefather’s aggressiveness is lost in the process and it’s, by far, one of the highlights of the album. Great guitar harmonies are everywhere, and while most are a lot more melodic now, taking away some of the extreme metal grit of earlier work, once again this fits the mood a lot better, just showing a band becoming comfortable with itself and evolving its talent.
“Three Great Ships” is another stellar moment, a fast paced song with black metal influence that twists into your pagan chanting in the chorus. There are some really toned down/slow-pace songs here as well, like “Eostre” and the amazing “Mellowing of the Maids” with an almost traditional heavy metal vibe to it. Nothing has been reinvented here, and even though this isn’t quite as good as “Engla Tocyme”, Forefather are at the top of their game. There is no better soundtrack to drink some mead and imagine oneself invading England. I highly approve this.
The cover: A great drawing/painting of Anglo-Saxon soldiers.
8 Anglo-Saxon pride out of 10.
- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Seven Kingdom Records
- Website: www.forefather.net
- Band
- Athelstan: guitars, bass, keyboards
- Wulfstan: guitars, bass, vocals
- Tracklist
- 01. Brunanburh
- 02. Cween of the Mark
- 03. Theodish Belief
- 04. Hallowed Halls
- 05. Steadfast
- 06. Three Great Ships
- 07. Eostre
- 08. Fire From the Sky
- 09. Mellowing of the Maids
- 10. Wolfhead’s Tree
- 11. Miri it Is
