1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heavy Guitar, Gothic Synths & Gypsy Music? Yes, Please!, October 9, 2008
This review is from: Forever Is Forgotten (Audio CD)
If you are already a fan of the first four Oneiroid Psychosis releases, you will be extremely pleased with Forever Is Forgotten, the fifth release. If you have not yet been lucky enough to hear Oneiroid Psychosis, here is your chance to start with a bang. Forever Is Forgotten starts with "Mysterium Tremendum," a standard song complete with harpsicords, heavy guitars near the end, self-questioning lyrics, and strong vocals. Then comes the curve ball many likely did not see coming in the form of "Birth and Death," a marathon song clocking over fifteen minutes in length. The song starts with deep synths akin to a John Carpenter film then leads to full-on goth rock with morbid lyrics/vocals about a real life suicide. The music then shifts to distant piano echoes overlapped by aquatic sounds to tell a tale of a person drowning after leaping from a bridge. The song suddenly blasts in to heavy, abrasive guitar and twinkling piano for several minutes til the song slowly fades away with minimal piano and ambient drones. It is a masterpiece that takes Oneiroid Psychosis to new music directions in both quality and style. Next up is "The Room," a song composed by very slow, very relaxing piano and tranquil cosmic sounds. It is a needed breather and mind soother before the next marathon song begins, "The Devil's Tongue." This second fifteen minute track goes in a different direction full of strong, longing vocals, swirling guitar riffs, and thumping drum beats found only at a gypsy caravan celebration. It is equally as good, if not better, than "Birth and Death". The remaining two songs ("As Leaves Fell," "Never Forgive, Never Forget") change the mood and tempo to an ethereal, melancholy direction with deeply sad vocals and synths. The art and design of the cd (by Paul Nitsche), excellent sound quality, variety of instruments, vocal improvements, and changing moods, from heavy to somber, adorn Forever Is Forgotten splendidly. The few negatives to note are the release has only six songs but Forever Is Forgotten measures over fifty minutes in length. The problem with that is if you do not like one song you are left with five songs and then it feels more like an EP than an LP. Also, the opening track may be good, but it is nothing we have not heard before from Oneiroid Psychosis and feels almost like a leftover song from previous releases. These are minor gripes but a fair and honest review should note them. Forever Is Forgotten is a very solid release just shy of a full five stars (one or two more songs would add more track list variety) and should be considered mandatory for any fans of this genre of music, especially for current Oneiroid Psychosis fans.
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