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Oak, Ash & Thorn

    
       
       
       
     
             
Dark Forest are a heavy metal band from the UK formed in 2002 by guitarist Christian Horton. The band released their self titled debut album in 2009, followed by three more albums - 'Dawn Of Infinity' (2011), 'The Awakening' (2014), and 'Beyond The Veil' (2016). The bands fifth album, 'Oak, Ash & Thorn' was released in 2020.    
             
Although the band have been in existence for nearly two decades, their album history dates back just eleven years, and my first ever hearing of the band, was on the 2017 'British Steel' compilation - their contribution being 'Where The Arrow Falls', from 2016's 'Beyond The Veil'. Their blend of heavy rock, European hard rock and the classic sound of British heavy metal, kinda made me ashamed I didn't have them on my radar already... But now that that's been rectified, I have the honour of presenting you their latest album 'Oak, Ash & Thorn'. Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's 1906 fantasy 'Puck Of Pook's Hill', Christian found an immediate connection with the books elements of magic and folklore - for Dark Forest has long delved into such topics. And the albums title reflects the three sacred trees of England - 'Oak, Ash & Thorn'. But before my review descends into a history lesson, what of the bands new album...    
             
...it's a mix of metal, rock and folk - packed with soaring melodies, epic sweeping rhythms, and an all consuming infectious feel, keeping you fully attentive to the stories told within. The sound of running water greets the listener as 'Ælfscýne' opens the album, setting a folk feel as it builds to a crescendo, the album launching forth in a tirade of guitars with 'Wayfarer's Eve'. A highly up tempo and heavy hitting romp, 'Wayfarer's Eve' is a mix of metal and rock and folk all wrapped up in the infectious nature of power metal. Dark Forest are in no rush to hurry through the album, keeping a hugely melodic feel prevalent, and dipping their toes into the epic and glory genres of metal. 'The Midnight Folk' is a foot tapper, a head nodder, and is a highly infectious mid paced "foot on the monitor" style swagger. Guitars lead the way as 'Relics' comes crashing in and gallops on at a faster pace than the opening double. Incessantly infectious, 'Relics' is a smile inducing happy romp. At over seven minutes in length 'Avalon Rising' is the longest song on offer...so far! And takes us on a NWOBHM inspired journey of buzzing guitars and catchy rhythms. Mid paced and mid tempo yet full of energy, 'Avalon Rising' is clearly British made...    
             
...as are the band. Now I did say that 'Avalon Rising' was the longest song on offer so far - well not anymore, because the albums title song 'Oak, Ash & Thorn' chimes in at an incredible twelve minutes in length! Running through all areas of the metal and rock genres 'Oak, Ash & Thorn' (the song) is an atmospheric and classic story telling type of song. Think Iron Maiden's 'Rime Of The Ancient Mariner' or Metallica's 'One' to gain a feel of what I mean. Dark Forest do a great job here of keeping the listeners interest by varying the pace, tempo and style of the song. Injecting a massive amount of the folk music ambience, 'The Woodlander' is a heavier romp than what has gone before, nodding heads harder than at any other point along this journey. Turning up the levels of energy and bombast, 'Eadric's Return' is a bouncy and big riffing NWOBHM classic. The buzzing guitar sound so synonymous with the eighties evolution of British metal is a glorious sound, and there's plenty of it to enjoy as 'Eadric's Return' romps by. The album closes with the shortest song on the album. At just three and a half minutes, 'Heart Of The Rose' is a crunching cacophony of guitars and savage rhythms. The heaviest song on the album by the widest country mile, 'Heart Of The Rose' is actually an instrumental, a head banger of an instrumental that rounds off a very good album.    
             
Overall, Dark Forest deliver a cracking story telling vibe, running through various styles of metal and rock, to complete a very interesting and infectious journey.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Ridge & Furrow E.P.      
           
"an infectious five song feast of traditional heavy metal, light and breezy and ever so catchy" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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