Silva – Forgotten Sanctuary
Release Date: 20th October 2023
Label: Black Lion Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Melodic Black Metal, Death Metal.
FFO: Dawn, Dissection, Hypocrisy, Amon Amarth.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Forgotten Sanctuary is the debut album from the purveyors of Minnesota based Black/Death Metal trio Silva, and as debut albums go, it is a rather impressive release.
Opening with a brief instrumental intro, track 2 ‘Desolate Hordes’ is a fine slab of blackened death metal, with soul-destroying riffs, and well written solo’s that sit perfectly within the construct of the song. Indeed, everything about the song is well-structured, and you think all is good until the opening riff of the title track of the album, ‘Forgotten Sanctuary’.
That is when you sit up and take a bit of notice. Essentially Melodic Death Metal, the track is the first inkling that you may be about to settle into a very assured album. Lead vocalist and guitarist, Taylor Haagensen spits out the lyrics with unrestrained aggression, ably supported by bassist Roman Pinter with his additional vocals, whose vocals one hopes does not have a bite as impressive as its bark! Sitting behind everything, blast-beats flailing about with articulate ease, is Aaron Lanik, providing a robust backbone to an impressive track.
Then…. Then…… ‘Aurora View’ kicks in, sitting more in the Black Metal genre and once again, you cannot fail to be impressed. Forgotten Sanctuary seems to be an album that improves with each additional track. You will sit here hoping it is a double album so that your mind melts from pure joy!
Alas, the album does level off a tad and Silva reduce themselves to mere mortals, delivering an accomplished debut album with too many numerous high points to remember, vastly outweighing the few frustrating aspects. ‘Death Becoming’ boasts a delightful intro and a riff 2 minutes 40 seconds in that made me stop typing and break out the air guitar. Instrumental track, ‘Burrowed Light’ sounds like it came from a Poison album, but hey, we ‘ain’t looking for nothing, but a good time’ with Forgotten Sanctuary, so we can forgive the band for this, even though it does last over 5 and ½ minutes.
‘Eye of Fate’ has a wonderful galloping intro and riff, with the vocals again being barked with vigour. It contrasts with the Poison track, allowing a degree of freedom that includes a cracking solo inside the first minute of the track. Final song, ‘Beyond Death’ is a great track to finish the album. With hints of Amon Amarth, the track is a great blend of melodic Death and Black Metal. Vocally, you do hear Johan Hegg in the delivery on occasion, but hey, if you are gonna sound like a melodic death metal vocalist, may as well sound like one of the best, but then these vocals are contrasted with the enjoyable barked black metal vocals that litters Forgotten Sanctuary.
Silva have released a debut album that the 3 protagonists should be immensely proud of. Each member of the band contributes to the tracks being memorable, catchy, full of riffs and ultimately, an album that makes the repeat button very easy to find!
(4 / 5)
