The Forlorn

We have here the first full length record of the Finnish band Ikuinen Kaamos. Are you ready to embark on the story of a man that killed his family and haunted by sorrow is ready to sink into oblivion?

“The Forlorn” is a narrative album that only consists of 5 lengthy progressive death-doom-black metal songs, but you will see that is not a setback. The album has some main common points between the songs. The vocals are powerful and expressive death metal style growls which make you feel the frustration of the main character, especially in the moments he screams from the top of his lungs. This mood is amplified by the generally harsh and sometimes blast-beating drumming. His sorrow can be felt "thanks" to the pretty heavily distorted down-tuned melodious-melancholic usually mid-paced riffs, which are at a lot of times unaccompanied by the vocals. It doesn’t mean the album lacks the growls i talked about. Because of the length of the tunes, there is plenty for "just instrumental” and “vocals + instrumental”. No accusation of the album being repetitive can be made, the ever-changing melodies making you feel different intensities of sadness and I must add that doing it for such a long period is very impressive. Another resemblance would be the fact that all of the songs have an acoustic guitar filler (some adorned with beautiful nature sounds). The keyboard can barely be heard even when it is present with exceptions being the acoustic parts.

„Delusion” is the epicenter of the album and some people's life. It is when you find out what made the wretched man kill his family, the tune somewhat more aggressive than the other ones. The other songs place him in newer times and on the verge of ending his misery. Will that happen in the end? Will he jump from the edge? You will have to listen to ”Fall”, the last piece. The latter also has a melancholic shred guitar solo. You don’t usually find such an element in music with a similar concept! „Frailty” in contrast to the other songs has the acoustic moment in form of a prelude, the others containing it as an interlude. An important thing is that all of them are enjoyable and don’t stray from the atmosphere created.

Musically, „The Forlorn” is flawless. If you like this type of music, this record will be likely one of your favorites. Once you get into it, the impressive story will entangle you even more!

There needn't be a history lesson of the band for the introduction of this review on the album "The Forlorn," by Ikuinen Kaamos. The only lesson needed is that you need to get this. Not an appropriate starter note, maybe, but allow me to explain why.

This album is the closest to the epitome of musical perfection. It has most elements needed to satsify the needs of those seeking metal to tell a story of a mental journey, a soul's endeavor, and most importantly, told using damn good metal. This album tells the story of a man completely haunted by his past. Having been horrifically depressed about a murder he had committed, it tells of his rise and fall to the point of death. Given the music written to convey this story, it is unbelievably powerful.

I associate their style a lot with that of Moonsorrow, except without the ambient keyboards/synths. They blend together beautifully a mixture of Black metal, Death vocals and rhythms/melodies you swear would be that of a Viking metal band, if it weren't for the lyrical themes. If anything, you can tell there is a hell of a lot of Folk metal influence in their style, even though they have never actually been that. But given the story told in this album, it will do anything but disappoint. I cannot begin to describe the effect this album will have on you once you hear the music and listen to the story of this one old man, haunted by his past. It is simply overwhelming, and will never allow you to forget it.

Interspersed with the hellishly-blasting metal sections within each track are beautiful accoustic guitar mini-sections, and they are to die for; this album has entranced me many times with these special key elements to fit into the lock of the heart, the mind and the soul. It is simply superb. There's really no other way to say it.

Although this album is not particularly, typically or noticeably complient with the "rules" of Pagan/Viking/Folk metal, any real lovers of the aforementioned sub-genres of metal will absolutely fall in love with this album. Recommended for fans of Moonsorrow, most definitely.

I will conclude this by saying that in truth, this album has brought me very close to tears. In it, is a story that I almost associate myself with, and with that, it has had the desired effect. Fucking amazing. Get it ASAP.

98/100

IKUINEN KAAMOS started as far back as in '97, but quite soon disbanded. Original member Jarno Ruuskanen brought the band back to life again in 2003 with some new members, and with a couple of demos in 2003 and '04 they got a deal with the (yet) small Dutch label Descent Productions. There are five long songs on The Forlorn, their debut album. All are varied, epic, agressive, melancholic, you name it... It almost gave me goosebumps all the 53 minutes it lasts, as it is so clever in arrangements, so wonderfully performed and packed in a perfect production. All hails to guitarist/bassist Jarno Ruuskanen for creating such a monster of an album, guitarist Juhani Mikkonen, Henri Villberg for growls and screams from the depths of Gehenna, and also to Artu Romo for beating the Hell out of his drums.

After the first spin I was more or less certain this was a 9/10 album, but now after countless rounds on the computer, in the car and on the stereo I've realized that if this isn't a top score then no album would deserve that tag. I admit that it isn't insanely good all the way, but overall this is such a vital and important release that it deserves all the cred it can get. I could write page up and page down about The Forlorn, but I'll leave you with this order: If you enjoy dark, prog, death, black and classical in a superb package you have no choice but to check out this future classic.