The second album by British black metal troop A Forest of Stars, Opportunistic Thieves of Spring builds on the promise of its predecessor (the remarkable The Corpse of Rebirth), while also planting a foot more firmly in the traditions of its chosen genre. The six looooong songs here revel in their prog rock elements, from the majestic song structures, mournful violin passages and whimsical lyrics to touches like the gypsy folk at the beginning of “Summertide’s Approach,” the ambient wind in the middle of “Starfire’s Memory” and the flute in “Raven’s Eye View.” But some of the more familiar elements of black metal, most notably the minor-key power chords and the harsh screaming that substitutes for vocals, are more prominent in the mix than before, as if the band wanted to remind us in what milieu it’s chosen to work. But it’s still black metal as art, not as blasphemous brutality, and there aren’t many acts out there that can manipulate those dark forces as well as A Forest of Stars.
http://www.aforestofstars.co.uk
http://www.transcendentalcreations.com
