It’s like a fucking hundred degrees outside in early June (OK, with humidity it feels like 95) and I’d be excited for any hint of arctic weather if only to be able to get my dog properly exercised. But we’re a long way away from that, so we’re going to have to take the mental route of imagining frosty tundra and snowstorms with no relent.
Icelandic black metal force Forsmán are going to get us about as close as we need with their ripping debut record “Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur” (“Burnt Ruins and Blazing Shores,” roughly translated in English). It’s frosty and violent from beginning to end, giving very few chances to take a breath, and when you can, your lungs choke with campfire smoke. The band—bassist/vocalist V., guitarist H., guitarist/vocalist O., drummer M.—spills ferocity and emotion into these seven tracks and 40 minutes of torment. It’s an album that doesn’t fear sub-zero temps but also could thrive in the opposite environment, putting you to the test. By the way, while signed to German label Vesperian, Metal Blade will distribute their record worldwide, which is big boost for this promising young band.
“Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt” opens in feedback before its destruction mars, storming as howls crush, guitars truck, and the general vibe releases a bloody snarl. The pressure builds as the playing gets monstrous, speeding as shrieks gut, boiling out into a fury. “Svartir Svanir” gushes as the vocals batter, the playing floods, and melodic waves crash as the swarming intensifies. Colors gush as battle horns cry, and spirited group calls get your adrenaline pumping all over again. “Andvan” is blinding, raw growls gnawing at bone, grisly melodies mounting an attack as the leads zap and sprawl. Emotions run high as the power devastates, the force cascading as the bass bends around corners, guitars ringing in your ears as everything fades. “Valdníðsla” thumps and thunders, howls scarring as the pace gets tougher, ravaging group calls taking off heads. Guitars tangle as the pace hulks ferociously, the leads spindling before fading in flames.
“Kynjamyndir” attacks with rousing drums, humid guitars, and the vocals menacing, the intensity engulfing into a mammoth force. The tempo combusts as the yells reach for the stars, a passionate burst sending rock and light rocketing, wrecking before ending suddenly. “Hræ Hins Almáttuga” rumbles, the playing pulling limbs from bodies, the vocals wrenching as the leads dive into a pit of fire. Roars dust as the guitars ramp up the pace dangerously, colors wash through progressive tones, and everything rides on a storm into closer “Barmafylltar Fjöldagrafir.” Guitars drive as the vocals slash, the temperatures blazing and jolting violently. Vocals strangle as dazzling leads send electricity down your spine, fluttering and flooding as your blood races. Growls curdle as every element gets noticeably more agitated, blasting as sounds scrape, everything ending cinematically.
“Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur” is an exciting, frosty, turbulent dose of black metal from Forsmán, a record that should reach more ears with Metal Blade behind it. They’re not reinventing the wheel or anything here, nor do they need to, but their passion and heart give them an edge over a lot of other bands playing a similar style. Listening to this feels like what it might if you were to see lava burst spontaneously from the earth’s crust where you’re likely to get burnt to a crisp, but it’s pretty exciting while it’s happening.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/forsmanband
To buy the album, go here: https://linktr.ee/vesperian#549446188
For more on the label, go here: https://www.metalblade.com/
And here: https://www.vesperian.world/
Meat Mead Metal 