Release
date: May
8th
2020.
Label: Ripple
Music.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Reverie
–
Tracklisting
1.Sage
2.Onward
through the Haze
3.Trace
the Omen 05:28
4.Manifest
05:22
5.Electric
Hive
6.Ancient
Satellite 04:54
7.The
Ending Cometh
Review
Sometimes
you have to look back before you can move forward and it seems
Forming The Void have taken this view with their new album Reverie.
As this album feels like the spiritual successor to the bands
acclaimed debut album – Skyward – whilst still progressing with
the themes contained on the bands previous 2 albums – Rift and
Relic.
This
is Forming The Void 4th album within the last 5 years and
I’ve always been impressed by the guys work ethic by releasing an
album every 18 months or so. Reverie is quite sonically different in
places with the progressive grooves that Forming The Void have
included on this album.
Opening
song – Sage – is classic Forming The Void through and through
with epic grooves and distorted riffs being built upon James vocals.
The band don’t take long to play some epic guitar solos that will
leave long-time fans of the band feel already at home. The precise
drumming from Thomas is swift and quite brutal in places. The whole
flow and sound of the album is more direct and you feel part of the
action from the very start.
Second
song – Onward Through The Haze – starts off slowly and patiently
before the soothing Psychedelic/Spaced Out Grooves transform into a
heavier style of Sludge/Stoner Metal with the music being LOUD and
PROGRESSIVE from start to finish. The atmosphere ventures into
Post-Rock/Post-Metal territories in places whilst retaining a Stoner
Metal spirit that allows the band to play some of the heaviest riffs
of their career to date.
Third
song – Trace The Omen – blends haunting psychedelic melodies with
a more reflective change of pace from the band with James being in a
more meditative state and the lyrics being “way out-there” in
places. The lush Middle Eastern vibe is quite beautiful to hear.
Though,you know with this being Forming The Void, the band are going
to change direction and play a more destructive style of music. And
that prediction comes true around the 3rd minute when the
Psychedelic/Spaced Out atmosphere moves up a destructive gear and
James vocals go into overdrive with trippy chants that we haven’t
heard from the band before.
Fourth
song – Manifest – opens with an eerie acoustic solitary guitar
that is quite abstract but is superbly played and I was expecting
this song to be an acoustic song but Forming The Void then unleash
one of heaviest and standout songs on the album. The song is quite
slow-paced to begin with and Forming The Void bring many different
ideas on this song but everything works as it should. The song is
bold and adventurous in all the right places whilst allowing the band
to play some of their trademark classic sounds against a Psychedelic
Stoner Metal backdrop.
The
final 3 songs allows Forming The Void to create more mysterious
sounding Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds with the music being creative and
daring in all the right places that reminds me of their classic debut
album – Skyward released back in 2015. Though, Forming The Void
have still managed to create an album that’s vastly different to
previous efforts.
Forming
The Void are now signed to Ripple Music for this album and I’ve
said this multiple times. All records from Ripple Music are quality
releases that always sound amazing and Reverie is no different.
Forming The Void have worked with some great labels in their career
already such as Kozmik Artifactz and Argonauta Records and it’s
good to see the band aligning themselves with Ripple Music for this
album.
Reverie is without a doubt, Forming The Void best album to date and another album of the year contender from the band.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Claire
at Purple Sage PR for
the promo. Reverie
will
be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via Ripple Music
from May 8th
2020.
Links:
