The Answer Lies In The Black Void – Forlorn
Release Date: 24th September 2021
Label: Burning World Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Avant-Garde, Atmospheric Doom Metal.
FFO: The Gathering, Celestial Season, Oceans Of Slumber.
Review By: Martha Skourteli
The last couple of years with all the changes that our world is going through due to the pandemic and the lockdowns around the planet, musicians sadly had to stop all live performances and like everybody else adapt to this new reality. However, out of all the negativity that emerged due to the circumstances, there was one positive thing, and that was the inspiration that struck all artists and the necessity to express it. That gave birth to a lot of new projects and new releases.
One such new project is The Answer Lies In The Black Void, a collaboration between Martina Horváth (Thy Catafalque) and Jason Köhnen (Celestial Season, Bong-Ra, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble). They started this new trip back in February, got a deal with Burning World Records in May and their debut album Forlorn will be released on the 24th of September. Looks like things are moving with the speed of light these days!!
The album consists of 8 medium length songs and one totally experimental folk addition of a little verse in Hungarian language. Forlorn totals a 41 minute runtime.
The music style is moving in the main frame of doom metal with the heaviness and slow tempo that characterizes it, but we all know that the genre has branches, leaves and roots moving to any possible direction. This is where The Answer Lies In The Black Void try to differentiate and present their own approach by adding folk, industrial and other elements. So if we need to categorize their style then we will put them under avant-garde, atmospheric doom.
When it comes to vocals, Martina’s engagement with and studies on the Hungarian folk music is topping the songs with an interesting personal touch that you can hear in the end result. She has an ethereal voice that would fit any gothic doom band, but in this project it’s the folk approach that gets the attention. It’s worth mentioning that we have no male vocals, with the exception of a narrative part in For Nevermore of an excerpt by Edgar Alan Poe (which is also my highlight from the album).
Their lyrics are mainly related to the core subject of gothic metal, referring to lost love, eternal love and melancholy, characteristic themes of this music.
Overall The Answer Lies In The Black Void is a promising new arrival that are not ones to ignore. After their first attempt, Forlorn, we may see more new elements in the future enriching their music…hopefully without the pandemic still torturing us.
(3 / 5)
