The Forsaken (album)

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The Forsaken
The Forsaken cover
Studio album by Antestor
Released 2005
Recorded 2004 Top Room Studios, Oslo
Genre Unblack Metal
Dark metal
Length 44:48
Label Endtime Productions
Producer Børge Finstad, Antestor
Professional reviews
Antestor chronology
Det Tapte Liv
2004		 The Forsaken
(2005)

The Forsaken is the third studio album by the Christian black metal band Antestor.

Contents

[edit] Recording history

The Forsaken was recorded in 2004 at Top Room Studios, which has been used by groups such as Tristania, Borknagar, Mayhem, and Extol. The album was produced by Børge Finstad. Several songs from the recording sessions were dropped from the full-length and were published on an EP titled Det Tapte Liv. The line up on this recording session featured two former member of the dark metal band Vaakevandring, namely vocalist Ronny Hansen and keyboardist Morten Sigmund Mageroy, as well as the female vocalist Ann-Mari Edvardsen of the gothic metal group The 3rd and the Mortal. Lars Stokstad is the only original Antestor member on this album.

The album is known to feature drumming by Jan Axel Blomberg, also known as Hellhammer, one of the most well-known drummers in extreme metal. His appearance on the recordings was somewhat disputed since Blomberg is known to play in several anti-Christian groups such as Mayhem and Dimmu Borgir and other notable Norwegian groups such as Arcturus. Ronny Hansen commented on Blomberg's appearance:

“ First of all Jan Axel "Hellhammer" is a total professional. He started up together with the secular scene and worse (laughs) but he doesn't care if it's secular or Christian. He knew from the start what Antestor stands for. And maybe if we get the chance, we are more than willing to use him again. Cause his drumming is outstanding. I think that he is the very best drummer in the scene and we are just very lucky to have borrowed his brilliance.[1] ”

[edit] Overview

The Forsaken 's reception in media was positive and several critics gave it good reviews.[2] However, some fans of the band's old style were not too happy with the stylistical change on The Forsaken: the previous "sorrow metal" output changed to modern, fast, progressive and melodic dark metal.[3] The album contains several guitar solos that are at parts reminiscent of those of Steve Vai. At parts the musical style overlaps with power metal, especially on "As I Die and "The Return". The Forsaken's music is comparable to IX Equilibrium era Emperor, latter Mayhem, and Dissection. Mageroy's keyboards are more symphonic in comparison to those on The Return of the Black Death.

Few song that were recorded during the same session were left off from the full-length album. These songs include "Grief", "Last Season", "Med Hevede Sverd" and "Det Tapte Liv", which were released as a teaser on an EP titled Det Tapte Liv in 2004. The EP also included the same song that is also on The Forsaken called "Rites of Death". The song was slightly remixed on the album, the main difference is that it includes an intro sang solely by Edvardsen. "Raade" and "Mitt Hjerte" instrumental pieces.

The lyrics on The Forsaken showcase dark, depressed, introspective and personal themes such as bitterness and longing. On this album, Antestor also deals with issues such as suicide[4], doubts about the certainty of Salvation[4], and yearning for death[5], which is rare for a Christian band. An example of the lyrics of "Betrayed" from the album The Forsaken:

“ Will Suicide Break The Ring Of Curse
Or Is There Just Another Hell Waiting Out There
Will Suicide Break The Ring Of Curse
Tomorrow I’ll Be Gone, So Don’t Look For Me
(Antestor: The Forsaken, song 6: "Betrayed"; Endtime Productions, 2005)		 ”

[edit] Track listing

  1. Rites of Death - 4:14
  2. Old Times Cruelty - 3:56
  3. Via Delorosa - 5:09
  4. Raade - 3:28
  5. The Crown I Carry - 4:52
  6. Betrayed - 4:21
  7. Vale of Tears - 5:52
  8. The Return - 4:47
  9. As I Die - 4:51
  10. Mitt Hjerte - 3:18

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kemman, Max, Antestor interview, Jesus Metal, retrieved 2007-10-30
  2. ^ Morrow, Matt,Antestor - The Forsaken, The Whipping Post, retrieved on 2007-11-18
  3. ^ Ryhänen, Pekka (2004-04-29). Antestor - Det Tapte Liv. Imperiumi.net. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. (in Finnish). Translated quote: "[Their] old dark and slow sorrow metal has changed into more modern, artistic and fast dark metal."
  4. ^ a b „Antestor“: The Forsaken, Titel Nr. 6: Betrayed; Endtime Productions, 2005
  5. ^ „Antestor“: The Forsaken, Titel Nr. 9: As I Die; Endtime Productions, 2005

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Antestor
Current members
Ronny Hansen · Lars Stokstad
Former/session members
Jan Axel Blomberg · Morten Sigmund Mageroy · Vegard Undal · Tony Kirkemo · Kjetil Molnes · Svein Sander · Erling Jorgensen · Stig Rolfsen · Paul W · Tora · Ann-Mari Edvardsen · Jokull "Frosthardr"
Discography
Albums
Other
Labels
Languages