Forteresse: Par Hauts Bois Et Vastes Plaines

2010 sees Forteresse who hail from Montreal Quebec, present the world with their third album, a dark ambient black metal album. This is a band that I am unfamiliar with, but on further investigation, I have discovered an album that really adds nothing to the genre that seems not to be so popular these days.

The trio deliver their take on this genre, which is built on a wall of sound that is both melancholic and majestic, being an album that has to be listened to in its entirety to be fully comprehended, as these tracks don't seem to work as stand alone pieces.

The band have chosen to present the six tacks here with the title of Untitled 1–6, which I am not sure as to whether there is a real reason or merit in doing so. Anyhow putting that to one side, the album is swathed with huge sweeping guitar riffs that really build a wall of sound that is propped up by some bass work that is nearly non-existent, muted vocal passages, low mix drums and some interesting keyboard work, creating a slow paced, manically depressive, ambient black metal album.

This is an album that I have listened to many times, which unfortunately I don't seem able to find anything that really holds my attention, as I have heard this all before. There are some interesting approaches used which features the keyboards, that do build some epic soundstages that are atmospheric, dark and menacing, but alas after a while it all becomes a bit samey.

The standout tracks for me are the eight minute plus "Untitled I" and the ten minute plus "Untitled III". The running time of the other tracks doesn't really allow the music to go anywhere, as this is a very short album.

I would suggest when you play this album that you turn on the lights, have friends around and play loud.

Track Listing
1 Untitled I
2 Untitled II
3 Untitled III
4 Untitled IV
5 Untitled V
6 Untitled VI

Added: December 3rd 2010
Reviewer: John OBoyle
Score:
Related Link: Band MySpace Page
Hits: 2316
Language: english

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