Hailing from Connecticut, Forest Thrall presents their primalistic debut full-length album, Apparitions of the Golden Horn. Following the raw, pagan-inspired black metal showcased in their earlier demo, this release takes their craft to new heights. Forest Thrall weaves an intricate tapestry of folk elements and shamanistic primalism, seamlessly intertwined with the feral spirit of old-school black metal. The result is a strikingly unique and evocative offering that pays homage to tradition while carving its own path.
The album opens with dark invocations to primal forces beyond our understanding, summoning the wrathful fury that courses through the core of this release. Cold, feral riffs pierce the ears as the album gets going, accompanied with endless blast beats and screeching vocals that blend seamlessly with the foot stomping instrumentals. Besides the introduction, the album flows seamlessly from track to track giving you very little time to reflect on each track. It feels like a trance once you’re towards the middle of the album. With little change between the fast blast beats and the mid-paced d-beat drumming, it’s easy to find yourself lost within the music as it can become a little too muddled together.
This style of pagan black metal carries a distinct sound—a convergence of traditional heavy metal, punk rock, and the raw ferocity of ’90s Norwegian black metal. Bands like Ildjarn, Ulver, Vordr, and Wulkanaz have defined this mischievous and primal essence, evoking the spirit of trickster gods from ancient myths. Forest Thrall channels this familiar sound on Apparitions of the Golden Horn, but with their own unique twist. Tribal throat singing and acoustic passages enrich the album’s connection to tradition, while a visceral anger and ferocity elevate it beyond the works of their predecessors.
Sometimes, it’s hard to beat tradition and Forest Thrall shows just that. While the sound may be familiar to most and some may claim it’s over done in the underground, Apparitions of the Golden Horn shows a mastery over this tried and true sound and even were able to set a new bar for coming bands to live up to. The level of passion behind this album was rather moving to me. It’s albums like these that resonate with me for a long time. I can see myself coming back to this album again and again. Truly a modern day classic.