Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
April 2024
- Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
- Praying Mantis: Defiance
- King Zebra: Between The Shadows
- About Us: Take A Piece
- Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories
March 2024
- Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
- Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
- The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
- Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
- Lipz: Changing The Melody
- The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
- Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
- Turbulence: Binary Dream
- Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
- D'Luna: Monster
- Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
- Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help
February 2024
- Traveler: Prequel To Madness
- Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
- Honeymoon Suite: Alive
- Durbin: Screaming Steel
- Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
- Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
- Striker: Ultrapower
- Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
- Robert Hart: Circus Life
January 2024
- Corvus: Immortals
- Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
- Grand: Second To None
- Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
- The Rods: Rattle The Cage
- Gotus: Gotus
- Metalite: Expedition One
- Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
- Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
- The Grandmaster: Black Sun
Dark Forest: The Awakening
Dark Forest: The Awakening
Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal (NWoBHM)
4.5/5.0
Facebook
YouTube
Cruz Del Sur Music
by Craig Hartranft, 06.02.2014
Hailing from the UK's Black Country, and keeping their heavy metal true, is Dark Forest with their third album, The Awakening. On board for the new long player is new singer Josh Winnard and guitarist Pat Jenkins.
Dark Forest: nearly night.
Once more the band sticks to the tried and true, what they've been doing from the start, a 21st century version of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in their music. The band offers strong clean vocals in harmonious arrangements, more twin lead guitar play, and a tight rhythm section with clear mix bringing out the bass. The combination of riffs, melodies, and Winnard's voice might remind some of Sweden's Supreme Majesty during their Danger period. Though that band was clearly European power metal, you'll catch some of that band's flavor in the pace of Rise Like Lions or the vocal harmonies Sacred Signs and Penda's Fen.
Fundamentally, the more I listen Dark Forest succeeds on the simple triad of melody, vocals, and a twin guitar attack. It all hearkens back to the things that Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and other period 30 years ago. You definitely get the Maiden tone with Immortal Remains and Secret Commonwealth (also another example of how the bass line brought forward, always a good thing. Perhaps the signature Dark Forest song here is the closing Sons of England. Obviously an ode to English spirit, the song has a marching majestic anthem-like feel, notably with the twin guitar flair soaring over the charging rhythm section. It's solid stuff, classic melodic heavy metal. Easily recommended.
Dark Forest - The Awakening (Trailer)
Tweet
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
In Short
With a new singer and new second guitarist, Dark Forest keeps the flag of traditional, NWoBHM flavored, melodic heavy metal waving high and strong.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]