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5.0 out of 5 stars
Vastly Underrated Masterwork, November 17, 2005
As a band, Sear Bliss have always been in top form, album after album producing some of the most alluring and hypnotizing black metal since Enslaved's viking hayday, but never garnered even close to the reconition they deserved, even after their demise, and as an album 'Forsaken Symphony' sounds as dark and ambitious as the title would imply. Unlike most black metal bands, Sear Bliss take a classier route to their darkness, specifically with their production, which utilizes a cleaner sound than most other black metal bands out there. The lush synth and orchestral passages and ambience are put about mid-range in the production, complimenting and not over power the guitars. Speaking of guitars, though the usual (in this case, far above average) highly aggressive black metal riffing is abundant (think more Dawn and less Darkthrone), the melodic bits are what really shine on the album. At times the clamoring of woodwinds amidst the buzzsaw guitars, scathing vocal work, and blastbeats seems beautiful, others harsh and unforgiving, though never forced like most of their peers (you might as well throw Emperor into that same group). The songs flow with ease into each musical break, creating a smooth ambience over a mostly abrasive wall of sound. Seriously, you would be hardpressed to find this level of skill and precision of sound anywhere, 'Forsaken Symphony' is proof that Sear Bliss should be thought of in the same light as the heavy hitters of the genre. In a word: mastery.
10 / 10
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