Circa 2006
When I first started writing this review I found that I had a hard time
thinking of something to say. Whether that's because I'm running out of
ideas, I'm not sure however is it possible that it also says something
about this album? Is it possible that Forefather's Ours Is The Kingdom
just lacks something to talk about? Personally, I don't think that it
does. Wudagast and the album's title track are awesome songs. The great
melodies in songs like The Golden Dragon make this such an awesome sing
along album. I guess that I am just running out of things to talk about.
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The production on this album is pretty good. Athelstan and Wulfstan's
guitar playing is really good. The tone is a bit trebly, however not the
kind of trebly that gives you an earache or anything. It doesn't sound
like a TV on that one channel that doesn't come through. Its more like
the sound of over used amplifiers and home built distortion pedals. The
bass would usually be a bit clangy for my taste however on this
particular album, it works well. The drums are something that I'm unsure
of. Either they are programmed or the drummer is like a fucking
metronome. Vocals are pretty good, the clean and harmonized vocals are
fantastic the other vocals - being along the lines of a black metal sort
yet not quite as harsh - are done well but detract in some places. The
overall recording is also very well done and professional.
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The song writing is awesome. These are songs that you can listen to over
and over and enjoy them every time. Especially closer Wudagast and
fourth track The Golden Dragon. They are all strong compositions with
varied melodies. Some riffs are pure classic. The harmonized riff at the
end of Smashed By Fate is a call to be heard by all warriors. The
instrumental The Sea Kings is... interesting yet brings forth memories
of voyages across dark fjords and battles with pirates and the Kraken and
cuts the album in half as the center track.
Overall, a strong album with a lot of great stuff and not a whole lot of
filler. Album highlights are definitely Wudagast, To The Mountains They
Fled (a relentless headbanging number to be proud of with one of the
best instrumental sections I've ever heard), and title track, Ours Is The
Kingdom. Whether or not this band is already at their prime only time
can tell however firing up or burning up, this album is a solid slab of
metal that can be enjoyed by just about anyone who is into heavy metal.
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