Review: “Of Wind & Willows” by The Forest Forgets

Hailing from Manchester New Hampshire, The Forest Forgets are a quartet who specialise in themes of existential dread, decay and the passing of time. Influenced by the haunting landscapes of nature, they promise lyrical introspection combined with Sludge Metal riffs to paint mournful melodies in expansive and atmospheric textures that hints at Doom laden Post-Metal. With current and former members of Velvet and Afterimage in their ranks, what does the first burnt offering of vocalist Griffin Romprey, guitarist Brandon Curcio, bassist Brennan McGuirk and drummer James Hagen have in store?

Sometimes it takes a little time and a few spins to really understand a record and the truth is that there is more than initially meets the ear to the debut record from The Forest Forgets. A bold opening verse to “Peel Back” laced with Nu-Metal introspection feels like a 1999 era Taproot demo influenced by Tool turns out to be more of a chorus; as it fades the rich, delicate and nuanced melody that rises up from its ashes harbours a dull ache, the grit and integrity of the pained lyrics haunting. That builds back up to something far more powerful as the first verse is repeated, the vocal performance from Romprey impressing as he cathartically sings and screams, Curcio ripping out a fine Post-Metal solo to add fuel to the fire. “Chemo” flows along similar lines, lush textures painted in rich melodies giving it a grace and elegance between bolder passages of powerful instrumentation. Lyrically sombre and sobering it rises from the abyss to a barn burning crescendo, Hagen providing the percussive power to match Romprey’s harsh unclean moments. There is a clear desire not to rest on their laurels and push boundaries because the quartet are clearly capable of creating something with a broader commercial appeal but instead choose to create something more creatively satisfying.

The pain in Romprey’s heart bleeds through the bandages on “Disintegrate“, the harrowing personal nature of the lyrical narrative drawing out a more emotional performance as he sings and screams in equal measure. What the band do is create atmospheres that play to those strengths, walking the line between bleak Post-Metal, Alternative Metal and Art Rock, the dark beauty of “Catching The Big Fish In The Vast Purple Sea” a case in point and absolutely sublime. An instrumental that mimics nature, echoing the sounds of waves gently crashing on the shore as a foundation before drifting into shoegazing sounds, it’s both as astounding as it is complex and unexpected. In grand finale some almost effeminate vocals give “With Grace” something a little different, a bold chorus and bitter lyrics accompanying a haunting ebb and flow between heavier and more melodic soundscapes. There is a so much untapped potential here to be realised that you just hope the The Forest Forgets get the opportunity to create more [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Peel Back
2. Chemo
3. Disintegrate
4. Catching The Big Fish In The Vast Purple Sea
5. With Grace

“Of Wind & Willows” by The Forest Forgets is out 27th September 2024 and is available over at bandcamp.