Review: Abyssal Forest – The Great Day of His Wrath
South American unblack metal, as I’ve said before, still continues to be one of the most prolific going. But the latest horde to join under the banner of Christ is a real welcome surprise.
Brazil’s Abyssal Forest were initially a secular black metal band before having a change of heart and placing themselves under the banner of Christ. There’s some interesting pedigree here for sure – not only do they seem to have garnered some respect in the underground, but this new release even has quite the producer at the helm: Phorgath (Jérémie Bézier), a longtime member of Belgian black metal horde Enthroned. It appears that Anderson Albuquerque (who used to go by the pseudonym Skullkarved) is the only surviving member of the original line-up; presumably, other members left with Anderson’s change of belief, though this is unclear.
To the music, then. If you’re looking for a great new slice of atmospheric black metal that keeps it classy and doesn’t overdo any one element, then this album is going to be up your alley. Beginning with some absolutely beautiful chant reminiscent of that of Hildegard von Bingen’s surreal compositions backed by rain and a church organ that sounds straight out of Antestor’s old days, we soon jump into the classic black metal sounds of “Divine Wisdom,” and you’d be fooled if this was some lost record from Norway’s 90’s heyday. Echoing the style of early Crimson Moonlight and recent unblack metal act Marble Tomb, but with the repetitive simplicity of early Wolves in the Throne Room, Abyssal Forest nail the sweet spot between a sense of almost gothic atmosphere and that coldness that only a great black metal record can give the feeling of.
“From Darkness into Light” adds a touch of the overt keyboard stylings of fellow Brazilians Cerimonial Sacred, but never goes into the over-the-top classical influences that the latter do. Certainly, there’s some big keyboard work on “A New Day a New Mercy,” but it quickly segues into some gorgeous autumnal guitar work that captivates (heard again on the last track, “Sweet and Loyal Divine Sovereignty,” an epic of viking-esque metal). Though The Great Day of His Wrath only boasts seven tracks, they certainly aren’t short; almost all go past the 4-minute mark, and the longest clocks in at 9:38. And if you loved what Antestor was doing on Omen (especially that epic “Morkets Grade” track), then dig in to the title track and relish the sounds within.
Lyrically, Abyssal Forest leaves no doubt where they now stand, and it’s absolutely refreshing in a day where some Christian bands seem almost embarrassed to be labeled as such, or languish in the nebulous work of being “faith-adjacent.” I can only applaud a band like this that comes from such a dark background in the satanic black metal underground, and is unashamed of their salvation. Awesome; more of this, please.
There’s really not enough praise I can heap on this record. It doesn’t reinvent the black metal wheel, but what it does, it does fantastically. If you’re craving classic unblack metal in the same vein as the greats, nab this one before it’s gone.
You can check out more about the band HERE.
For Fans Of: Antestor (post-Kongsblod era), Cerimonial Sacred, Crimson Moonlight (early), Marble Tomb, Wolves in the Throne Room, Dark Fortress, Emperor
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