Forefather - Ours Is The Kingdom

 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.

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.

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.