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Forgotten Tomb ”Springtime Depression” |
| This is one goddamn beautiful
opening from an album that oozes from depression and gloomy thoughts.
Judging from the title of the album which is “Springtime Depression” this
is not the music for a mental patient just dismissed from the hospital –
they’re not fully treated anyway! The music reaches out and touches you – at least I was immediately caught by the atmosphere in the beginning. It’s still somewhat a mystery to me how music that is so suicidal and depressive can appear so beautiful. The feeling is sparkling and bright and with a slight touch of springtime, the music embraces the listener to the fullest. A line of the lyrics from the first song on the album called “Todestrieb” goes like this:”Time here has stopped. A new dimension out of space” – If this is not about the trip to the other side - the crossing of the River Styx or what ever you wish to call it - then I don’t know. Maybe a good outtro for a funeral - if the reverend is up for some alternative music – it is a direct opposite to what is usually played in a church. Well, back to the band. This is really not a band – at least in a traditional way. Forgotten Tomb is a one-man act with a session drummer. It seems that a great deal of the underground black metal acts today consists of a solo artist only. At least, I’ve met a lot of those lately. But as I see it the big difference between them and Forgotten Tomb is that they use real drums, instead of a machine. Most drum machines are so poorly programmed, that the sound is not worthy of attention – especially not when the pace of the songs is rapid. |
This is one goddamn beautiful
opening from an album that oozes from depression and gloomy thoughts.
Judging from the title of the album which is “Springtime Depression” this
is not the music for a mental patient just dismissed from the hospital –
they’re not fully treated anyway! The music reaches out and touches you – at least I was immediately caught by the atmosphere in the beginning. It’s still somewhat a mystery to me how music that is so suicidal and depressive can appear so beautiful. The feeling is sparkling and bright and with a slight touch of springtime, the music embraces the listener to the fullest. A line of the lyrics from the first song on the album called “Todestrieb” goes like this: ”Time here has stopped. A new dimension out of space” If this is not about the trip to the other side - the crossing of the River Styx or what ever you wish to call it - then I don’t
know. |
| I must admit that
I’ve fallen flat on my back for Forgotten Tomb. Not submission in any way
but I like the music a lot. Forgotten Tomb reminds me a little of older
Bathory – if you subtract one fourth of the intensity and velocity of the
music. The foundation stone for Forgotten Tomb was laid down, somewhere in the north of Italy in March of 1999 when Herr Morbid (guitar/vocal) teamed up with the bass player Torment, to create a musical project so cold and depressive, as never seen before. After a couple of weeks of rehearsal things went kind of bad for Torment, who became the victim of his own mental instability. He was told to go crazy and he disappeared, and was never seen or heard from again. After that Herr Morbid unplugged himself from the world, while composing all material for an upcoming album. The work resulted in a mini cd with the title “Obscura Arcana Mortis”, which was published in June 2000 with a stock of only 215 copies. Not a lot but still enough to launch a career and attract lots of good reviews from press and the growing horde of dedicated fans. After this release Forgotten Tomb changed their style to a darker and slower kind. A much more suicidal/depressive oriented atmosphere. That same year in December the initial preparations for an upcoming album was made. That album was published in June 2001 and was titled ”Songs to Leave”. The sound on this album has from several sources been described as a unique mixture of Burzum, old Katatonia and Dolorous. The lyrics are primarily about depression, suicide and hatred. Not uplifting or in any way positive, but still a part of human nature. |
A promo-cd was
made to use in the quest for a record deal, and a more official release of
”Songs to Leave”. Approximately a month later Forgotten Tomb signed a contract with Swedish label Selbstmord Services. The album “Songs to Leave” was then published in August 2002, both as a cd and limited vinyl, pressed in purple and with a poster as extra material. The reaction from press and fans was quite overwhelming, and in general positive. During the summer of 2002 ex-Shining drummer Wedebrand joined the band. The second Forgotten Tomb album was recorded in January 2003 in the highly acclaimed Swedish studio Abyss in Stockholm. With previous releases in mind, this one was a great big leap forward. All the feelings and expressions that had helped Forgotten Tomb getting to the level of fame they hold today, had a more clear and powerful expression now. The fall of 2003 looks very interesting for Forgotten Tomb. A string of concerts round Europe has been set up, and at the end of the year the band is back in the studio to record yet another album – with two new band members – Razor.SK and guitar and Asher on the drums. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a highly recommendable album. Despite the amount of negative vibes a grand musical experience awaits the listener. There’s no way avoiding the Forgotten Tomb – you got to face it!
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There’s more information about Forgotten Tomb and their releases at www.adipocere.fr and www.forgottentomb.com |
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