Review: “Whispers Of Existence” by Forgotten…

“Until the end of Time, we shall remain Forgotten… . We shall never see Thy Light… We should remain Lost in The Abyssal Ashes Of Our Existence…”

A collective of musicians known for their works in Mountain Hermit, Vintermørke and Azzaya to name but a few have committed alchemy in Trikala Greece. Formulating a sound that circles Black Metal like a vulture waiting to strike, the trio have more than one string to their bow and lean on co-conspirator Semiazaz (ex-Azzaya, Seed Of Cain, Ave Sanguine) to mix and master. Given the cover art from Nikos Stavridakis of VisionBlack and the often bleak nature of the genre, we’re expecting something along similar lines but one should never judge a book by its cover…

The unmistakeable dry rasping vocals of Georgios Chatziioannidis paint an anguished picture of a tormented soul during the thunderous and yet reflective “Is This The Gift You Call Life“, the crushing classic Black Metal atmospherics making way for a spoken word in the final third, a solitary chink of light through the black clouds overhead. Underneath the weight of the sound is a deep seeded melancholia from which the inevitability of a futile existence is explored, a theme which is carried on the shoulders for the duration of the record giving it a bleak and yet captivating quality. Taking the path less travelled “The Illusion Of Truth” offers some cold synths to offset the thunderous rhythms, while never letting the murky atmosphere dissipate as is contemplating self immolation. A sombre and sobering affair that feels like the reading of the last will and testament of humanity, it could go on for another verse and chorus but instead makes way for the viciously barbed “Bound In Misery“, a cut more abrasive than wire wool in the hands of a sadist. There is a marked difference in the quality of the recording of this one as if executed in a different studio or with different equipment and while it takes a couple of seconds to adjust it is something that bizarrely adds to the records rustic charm. Far from primitive the recordings preserve some lovingly constructed intricate moments, the graceful introduction to “Woods Of Torment” a palate cleansing moment before it races away like a dungeon whippet. There are moments of almost feral vocal in shriller tones that feel unhinged, adding to the theatrical nature of the performance. A Blackened Folk Metal cut is not entirely unexpected and the acoustic “Pilgrams Of An Unknown Future” feels like it has the backing vocal of a Serj Tankian with that delicate hum for which he is famed. Enthralling and surprisingly warm, it is one that provides a point of difference as boundaries are pushed and purists turn their backs in disgust. The narrative is continued with “A Dream With A Dream (Tribute To Edgar Alan Poe)“, a haunting affair with acoustic guitars, piano and leads giving the dark poetry a suitable soundscape. Inception has been searched for and reached, Forgotten creating something that stirs the soul [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Is This The Gift You Call Life
2. The Illusion Of Truth
3. Bound In Misery
4. Woods Of Torment
5. Pilgrams Of An Unknown Future
6. A Dream With A Dream (Tribute To Edgar Alan Poe)

“Whispers Of Existence” by Forgotten… was released on 28th August 2023 and is available over at bandcamp.