Fen – Dustwalker (2013)

Arriving early 2013, we have Fen’s eagerly awaited third full-length release “Dustwalker”. This UK band has been pushing forward with their Post-Rock infused Atmospheric Black Metal for several years now, and with this release they manage to go fully over the Post-Rock side of things lined with some killer Black Metal elements. In this excellent release, the band delivers seven brilliant atmospheric tracks that will surely enchant you since the first one.

Opening with the most brutal track in this release “Consequence”, the band goes on a killer opening with furious Black Metal riffing and crippling harsh vocals. This very intense opener nicely mixes some excellent clean vocals and the overall atmosphere feels very soothing once the song climaxes and closes. The Post-Rock side of things starts with the very ethereal “Hands of Dust”, a melancholic 11-minute song that is quite enjoyable and very easy flowing. Don’t get us wrong, there are intense BM moments here and there, but the overall structure of the track is quite melodic.

Reminding us a bit of Les Discrets and Arctic Plateau, “Spectre” and its shoegaze-ish sections is one of our favorite tracks on this release. The vocals are very harmonious and the overall pace is quite delightful, in particular the double-kick sections that work brilliantly in this song. After the jazzy and soothing instrumental “Reflections”, “Wolf Sun” comes at us with a catchy bass guitar line and a very ethereal atmosphere. It is quite interesting how Fen manages to make the harsh vocals work so well with such soothing and relaxing music, adding a very original touch to it.

Tied for the second more intense track in this release, “The Black Sound” is quite a rollercoaster with excellent slowdowns and even better aggressive parts. The band manages to fill 10 minutes will multiple different styles perfectly stitched together. The other second more intense track is the regular version of the album’s closer “Walking The Crowpath”, another killer track that blends furious Black Metal with excellent melodic and atmospheric elements. In this song the band really delivers 11-minutes of pure bliss with all the little details that make this song truly brilliant. To not ruin the limited edition of this CD for fans, we will only say that the extra track is completely worth it as it shows a different side of the band.

Overall, Fen has truly outdone themselves with “Dustwalker”. Never letting go of the aggressive Black Metal core, the band manages to beautifully mix it with some lush and ethereal atmospheric and Post-Rock elements, making their sound truly unique. If you like Black Metal that is different and you have an open mind with an inclination for melodic brilliance, then this is one release you should not miss.

Release: January 21st, 2013

Genre: Ambient Black Metal / Post-Rock

Country: UK