Thy Serpent - Forests of Witchery (1996)

Thy Serpent was one of those formative if forgotten black metal bands of the 90s. Talented composers with a trio of decent albums under their belts and a number of EPs. Of the three full-lengths, I have always enjoyed Forests of Witchery the most. There is a poetic grace to this album which was rare in the 20th century, every song on this album is a beautiful construction which evokes rustic euphoria and lost pagan arts. It also sounds fantastic even to this day: a perfectly executed mix with equal attention to every bass line, drum battery and searing melodic six string.

It would be remiss of me not to discuss the line-up on this. Sami Temetz (guitar) is also a member of Finnish black pioneers Beherit. Azhemin is the driving force of Soulgrind, and did a stint with Shape of Despair. Drummer Agathon is another grizzled veteran, having played with classic thrash band Airdash,
black/thrashers Walhalla, also Soulgrind, and recently Barathrum. Of course, most of you know him from his excellent main band, Gloomy Grim. The sound of Thy Serpent is actually comparable to Grim, minus the over the top gothic horror imagery.

Forests of Witchery consists of six tracks, each excellent. "Flowers of Witchery Abloom" opens the album with an epic stream of melodic chords and beautiful flowing bass. An atmosphere of obscure grace is immediately captured, and the song dazzles eerily through its six minutes. "Of Darkness and Light" lifts the banner with its charging pace, putting most 'pagan' metal of the 21st century to shame. Riff after riff of flawless delivery. In particular I love the darker tone to the riff around the 2 minute mark. "A Traveller of Unknown Plains" is bathed in a warm light. "Only Dust Moves..." lives up to its amazing title with a babbling brook of sorrow, subtle and transfixing. Did I mention the lyrics are quite the mix of cheese and awesome?

I will rather learn to enjoy misery
Than partake a life of hypocrisy
Here i sit by the slowly dying candlelight
So i will drink with the shadows by my side

"Like a Funeral Veil of Melancholy" begins as the slowest metal piece on the album, but the note selection is both moving and powerful, a crescendo of glorious agony. The keyboards are placed at just the perfect level to be effective without ever stealing the mix. Speaking of keyboards, the album ends with the instrumental "Wine from Tears", a nearly 9 minute composition of synths and percussion which should sate any fan of Summoning or early Mortiis.

In short, this is an amazing album which should not have been so overlooked. An immersive experience easily the equal of many of its peers. For example, I found this superior to most of the early Katatonia material. Highly recommended for fans of melancholic, melodic black metal or blackened doom.

Verdict: Epic Win [9/10] (All life held so dear is only here to pass)

http://www.thyserpent.net/