Written by Kirk
Lotus Thief / Forlesen — Lotus Thief – Forlesen
> Black/doom/post-/drone
> California, US
> I, Voidhanger Data
> Releasing January 26
What are you aware about black steel? Whereas the historical past of black steel has been muddied by the racist and xenophobic tendencies of a few of its forebears, nothing can evaluate with its inherently uncooked, amalgamous nature. Simply essentially the most intense and excessive sub-genre of heavy steel, as an artwork type, it can not, at its core, bear any singular that means or supreme. These are and all the time have been inferred by the observer, usually to nice detriment.
Now, earlier than you argue that heavy steel is, by nature, deeply anti-religion, I’ll remind you that Christian heavy steel does exist (sadly), in addition to different numerous iterations of our beloved heavy music. I’m not arguing the validity of those different types of heavy steel, merely referencing them to assist my assertion. It’s what the artwork is used for—its grand function—that makes all of the distinction. However alas, some individuals are destined—maybe even doomed—to proceed to perpetuate the detrimental stereotypes related to heavy steel.
Fortuitously, I’m right here to debate two bands that do all the pieces of their energy to battle these the detrimental stereotypes: Lotus Thief and Forlesen. Fashioned in 2012, Lotus Thief is the epitome of the pondering man’s steel. Fusing ambient black steel with post-rock and a wholesome dose of doom steel, they coined the time period “textual content steel” by revitalizing historical texts as idea albums. First showing on Botanist’s Doom in Bloom, they’ve launched albums primarily based on the 55 BCE philosophical piece “De Rerum Natura” (2014’s Rervm), historical texts of sorcery and paganism (2016’s Gramarye), and a retelling of Greek tragedian Aeschylus’s epic trilogy (2020’s Oresteia). Like I stated, the pondering man’s steel.
Created seemingly from the ether in 2016, Forlesen grew to become one thing of a shadowy reflection of Lotus Thief, taking the darker, heavier components of Lotus Thief’s sound, injecting them with a wholesome dose of ambiance, and slowing them down much more. The truth that three quarters of Forlesen’s lineup consists of half of Lotus Thief’s lineup probably has one thing to do with that—Bezaelith, Petit Albert, and Ascalaphus are nothing if not versatile—and the addition of (former?) Kayo Dot drummer Maleus actually helps to spherical issues out, bringing a wealth of summary influences together with him. However they make exceptionally technical, expansive, and considerably grandiose compositions which can be each otherworldly and enchanting. On no account one thing you’ll be able to hearken to “casually,” a Forlesen album is on the very least a full-body expertise.
So, is it dishonest for Lotus Thief and Forlesen to launch a break up EP since they share so most of the identical members? …Does it matter? From the Lotus Thief aspect, the very post-rock ahead “In Perdition” relies on Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th Century textual content “The Decameron,” a set of brief tales that happen in the course of the Black Loss of life. It serves as a reminder that there have been pandemics earlier than and will probably be once more, however with terror comes hope. Opening with a delicate, mournful acoustic guitar, like a lonesome prayer to a seemingly uncaring god, the songs swells with chaotic pressure as a cascade of panic voices rise as much as the heavens as they cry out for mercy. And people cries are finally answered, as, via isolation, salvation is attained till we as soon as once more hear that delicate, mournful acoustic guitar, one remaining prayer marking the top of their struggling.
On the Forlesen aspect, an ominous drum beat opens “Black is the Coloration,” thunderous like that of a medieval funeral procession. Pulsing, cavernous, and darker than hell, this track serves to remind us that, even within the wake of horrible occasions which can be past our management, we must always by no means take without any consideration our personal survival. All through historical past, there have been quite a few occasions—as a rule tragic—which have served to remind that, above all else, we’re brethren regardless of our variations. Illness is aware of nothing of social hierarchy. It doesn’t care the place you had been born, the place you reside, should you’re wealthy or poor, or should you’re a person or a lady. Ultimately it comes for us all, and, because the refrain repeats repeatedly and once more, “We will probably be as one”. The laborious half, although, is remembering this lesson as soon as the illness has handed. As a result of, if not, we will be the subsequent to die. Will the drums beat the identical for you?
THE BOTTOM LINE
If Lotus Thief and Forlesen have taught us something, it’s that you need to by no means choose a guide by its cowl. Music, like all artwork, is a vessel of expression, inventive or in any other case. It may be used to unfold messages of peace, hope, and love, or it may be used to offer new life to issues misplaced to the passage of time. Is black steel by nature harsh and abrasive? Sure, but it surely can be a vessel for enlightenment. Studying your historical past is vital. Data is energy, and everybody has a proper to data. It’s what you do with that data that makes all of the distinction.
The put up Cut up Evaluation: Lotus Thief / Forlesen – “Lotus Thief – Forlesen” (Black/Doom/Submit-/Drone) appeared first on Noob Heavy.