Finsterforst – Still
Finsterforst – Still
AOP Records
Release Date: 31/07/26
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8.5/10
Simply put, one of the biggest discoveries of the year for me and another gem unearthed from the AOP roster! With bands like Ellende and Funebrarum pumping out quality records via the label this year alone, AOP clearly have an eye for talent! They have an eye for the unconventional bands too, which Finsterforst firmly fall under. This is simply as their sound – as presented on “Still” – does not fall into one neat category nor sub genre.
Take the opening track ‘Obduktion’ for instance. Clocking in at 8 minutes, the song takes us through several movements and dynamics. Whether it’s the electronic elements and effects, or the folk elements that are recruited later in the song, they fall back to the good old reliable crunching distorted guitar to provide multiple layers of depth as far as melody is concerned. The rhythm is slow, calculated, allowing you time to fully absorb and digest each segment, but without them outstaying their welcome. Operating a dual vocal attack, Olli handles the harsher vocals whilst Johannes employs more of the cleaner chant style vocals which offer an opulent focal point in the chorus here. Well, chorus is used loosely as they follow non-conventional song structures and go beyond the restrictions of the canonical verse-chorus song structure. Though the instrumentation is more prominent in the opening song, they make way for the enchanting cleaner vocals which stand radiant and majestically above the rest of the mix. They are the main character here and deserve all the attention they get. Even if they’re in German, a language I do not speak. Though I recall being enamoured by Faroese power metal act Tyr for songs like ‘Sinklars Visa’ and although I don’t speak a word of their language, it was the encapsulated emotion and overall timbre that had me hooked. It’s the same with Finsterforst, passing the language barrier and proving that music is the universal language. Whilst that’s a cliche from me, Finsterforst are anything but cliche, offering originality in spades without it feeling over-engineered or forced!
‘Knie nieder’ and ‘Im Wind’ follow the formula present in ‘Obduktion’, slow methodical groove metal spiced with folk instruments and electronic enhancements when needed! The introduction of the horns add a cinematic quality and sense of drama to the mix too! Though the acoustic guitars are dusted off for ‘Fels’, with the calmer ambient vibes necessary for the album’s pacing and to provide some breathing space.
Now at this stage, we’re well over 30 minutes in. The introduction of a 24 minute song feels like an effort now with listener fatigue sitting in. While it portrays a rather epic cinematic feel spread across multiple intricate and elegantly crafted movements, I can’t help but think this would have been better as a stand alone single! The album comes in at 77 minutes in total, and when you consider that two were covers, you have to question the inclusion of them and what value they add. It’s a cool rendition of Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick In The Wall’, but it’s harder to see why an Immortal cover has been included.
I realise. This may sound negative. Let’s regroup; I’m really impressed with Finsterforst’s sound and I genuinely admire their approach. It’s a bit of a gamble in some ways, but they’ve carved something very special here and will stand out in the crowded metal genre for these reasons. All the right reasons. I’ve dipped into this album multiple times already and can’t see this stopping. “Still” will most likely be in my album of the year list come December.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Obduktion
02. Herbstwanderung
03. Knie nieder
04. Im Wind
05. Stille Nacht
06. Fels
07. Leere
08. Beyond the north waves (Immortal cover)
09. Another brick in the wall Pt. II (Pink Floyd cover)
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal, with photos used with kind permission of Necroshons. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
