To an outsider black metal is likely to be considered as being violent and harsh and in many cases it is. However that same outsider could well be in for a shock if they were confronted by the beauty of a band such as Drudkh, for example. Nature is one theme that has been embraced by black metal bands and is both harsh and beautiful so it is only natural that both emotions are musically counterpoised to represent it fully. Taking this perhaps a step further though is the more recent concept of shoegazing black metal (for want of a better definition). This sees aspects of Indie bands championed by the New Musical Express in the late 80s and early 90s seeping into the music and dreamily invoking a passion, which as the term states, has you somewhat drifting off and staring at your footwear in a trance. As the music of bands such as Ride, Lush and Slowdive proved at the time to be both effective and even at their best wondrous I am quite happy to see this development seeping into the works of such groups as Alcest, Agalloch and UK band Fen whose new album ‘The Malediction Fields’ may in time be looked back as one of the defining pieces of this somewhat unexpected sub-genre.
With the album having been delayed somewhat, the group have had plenty of time to prove themselves in the live environment and get some very important support slots for the likes of Negura Bunget and Skyforger. I have a feeling that when it has sunk in they are going to be very much in demand further afield in Europe but am perhaps being a tad presumptuous as I have had plenty of time to digest this over the pagan tides of Yule.
A mournful guitar strum takes us in to ‘Exiles Journey’ but it is the sudden plummet into a vortex of wind-whipped aggression that is eagerly waiting to literally knock us off our feet. The two emotions meet as we progress and barbarity and maudlin atmospheric tones clash head on. Songs are long, fantastically constructed and have plenty of opportunity to twist and turn as they develop. As a listener you have plenty of opportunity to really lose yourself in this. A glistening guitar passage acoustically ebbs and keyboards also uplift the music in a sense that makes you feel the sun has just broken out from behind a pitch black storm cloud. Clean vocals work in the background here and are at this point spot on. ‘A Witness To The Passing Of Aeons’ sends shivers down the spine with arcane sounding keyboards and low growls as it intros. From there the guitar work really does sparkle at times reminding of the myriad wonder from one of my favourite albums Fields Of The Nephilim’s ‘Elyzium.’ It is also noted that the front-man of Fen has adopted the name of ‘The Watcher’ for this project.
Whilst I would love to continue heaping praise on this generally magnificent release I find it hard to with third track ‘Colossal Voids.’ Whilst as I said the clean singing works really well in the background, when it is pushed to the front as it is here it just doesn’t do it for me. Not that it is off key (although for some reason I keep expecting it to go that way) I just do not find it strong enough to pull things off here. Perhaps Neige just did too good a job on ‘Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde’ and my expectations are just too high here.
This one complaint is quickly forgotten as the mournful progressive guitar and keyboard work on ‘As Buried Spirits Stir’ draws you into labyrinthine folds and caresses like the dead whispering in your ear. The almost flamenco guitar passage in this song is just one of many unexpected nuances on an album that really does keep you on your toes at all times. ‘The Warren’ has a really long instrumental start to it and one that reminds me of ‘Blackwater Park’ era Opeth and sums up the bleak and depressive air of things to perfection.
I have a pile of promos on my table and the real test of a good one (well unless I put my hand in my pocket and buy the original) is finding it still there a year later, not having been put in a box and rarely played again. I am pretty sure that at the end of the year ‘The Malediction Fields’ is still going to still be there, as I am certain to be watching the group when they support Dornenreich in March. Check them out and prepare to lose yourself….
http://www.myspace.com/fenband
http://www.code666.net
