Graveforests and Their Shadows

Atmospheric black metal is a genre coming up pretty quickly on the horizon. Bands from all over the world strive, and often fail, to conjure up a haunting, bleak, desolate atmosphere with the overabundance of obvious Darkthrone worship, using generic (and often plagiarized) riffs from the aforementioned 90's black metal pioneers. Walknut manage to take the entire genre, and turn it upside down, giving it a brand new twist without running into any clichés.

Both members hailing from Russian folk black metal outfit Temnozor, right from the start the listener is made aware that this is not going to be a mediocre listening experience. Stringsskald and Ravnaskrik know exactly what they're doing upon picking up their instruments. The intro, Hrimfaxi, draws the listener in with chilling synths, reminiscent of, wouldn't you know it, Graveforests and their Shadows- much akin to the album's cover. Again, atmosphere is stressed of utmost importance.

Regarding the instruments and tone, they are best broken down as such. The guitars which are the basis of the music, have a buzzing, distorted, almost crunchy tone to them. Carrying the rhythm alongside the drums, which are mixed quite lowly save for the chiming bells and crashing cymbals. The bass is fairly inaudible, but can be heard if the listener tries hard enough. It follows the guitar lines, giving the overall tone of the album a solid backing. The vocals are a pleasant surprise. Hearkening to bedroom project Self-Inflicted Violence, the comparison between Walknut and SIV is uncanny. Tortured wails above a daunting wall of distortion... it's near musical bliss in the realm of atmospheric black metal.

A song-by-song analysis of this album would be worthless. To point out the highlights in each track would detract from the listening experience. To put it simply, it's impossible to listen to one song from this album and then quit. To be fully appreciated, it must be ingested as a whole. The thick, distorted guitars, the chiming cymbals and bells, the entrancing rhythms immerse themselves around you as you stare off into the sky, pondering your very existence. This music grasps your mind and contorts it, making you wonder, simply, "why?"

One of the most interesting aspects of Graveforests and Their Shadows, however, is the drumming. The double bass isn't obnoxious- though prominent, it keeps its place in the distant background, while the majority of the time signatures are noted by the cymbals and bells. They compliment the fuzzed, distorted guitars quite keenly, and you'll catch yourself tapping your feet or nodding your head along with them, until the final rhythm of Skinfaxi fades.

When it comes to atmospheric black metal, it doesn't get much better than this. Graveforests and Their Shadows is a must have for any black metal afficionado, or anyone who enjoys hypnotic, mesmerizing, and enthralling music in general.