Keeping It True

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Sunday 14 June 2009 (Michael Bugeja - The Sunday Times of Malta)

The discussion is in full swing. I’ve just asked local band Forsaken for a brief definition of the Epic Doom Metal genre they are widely renowned for, both locally and in foreign metal circles. “It is a form of Doom Metal with a theatrical, neo-classical element that is sometimes regarded as bombastic”, proffers Albert Bell, the band’s bassist and lyric writer. Leo Stivala, Forsaken’s vocalist, adds the words grandiose, powerful and melodic to the equation, because “we blend the epic genre – the heavy metal side - with the traditional Doom ethic – the 1970s Sabbathian prototype”. To my left, guitarist Sean Vukovic, the band’s chief studio buff, suggests that production also plays a part, while drummer Simeon Gatt, highlights Doom Metal’s defining slow tempos, down-tuning and a generally heavier sound. There is of course the lyrical aspect too, often drenched in waves of greyness and dread, but in Forsaken’s case, almost always draped with a glimmer of hope that usually surfaces towards the end of their albums.

This is also true of the band’s latest offering, After The Fall, which was released a couple of months ago on through Swedish record label I Hate. It is their first release since 2005’s Dominaeon – a four year gap that has been eventful in many ways, and not all of them good. “The biggest setback was of course that our previous label, Golden Lake, was folding at the time Dominaeon was being released” explains Bell. “We were given the option to either go for a normal release with little promotion or seek distribution ourselves”. The other three members remember the situation only too well. “It was quite disheartening”, Gatt continues, “we had put in so much time and work into it so we decided to go with the first option, which of course meant that the album was released but it didn’t get the exposure and promotion it deserved”.

After that, a combination of events, ranging from personal matters (guitarist Vukovic becoming a father, for example) and finding available studio time meant that recording of the new album had to be done in split sessions, even if Vukovic recorded all of his guitarwork at his home studio. Of course, the song writing also took time, and in between, Forsaken also needed to rehearse their live sets regularly and relentlessly because of the several performances they were booked to give at key Doom metal festivals all over Europe, among them a headlining slot at the Doom Shall Rise V festival in Germany back in 2007 and special guests at the Doom Metal Inquisition V in England last July.

“Strangely enough” says Gatt, “I think we played more gigs abroad last year than we did in Malta”. This alone is proof enough of just how big Forsaken’s reputation, indeed the band’s name, has become on the international circuit in recent years. “We’ve been fortunate in having a very loyal and supportive following here in Malta, and their backing will always be important to the band”, adds Bell. “Anyone who knows us will tell you how seriously we take the band, so now that we’re getting a fair bit of international recognition too it’s quite rewarding”.

There’s no denying that Forsaken’s profile has received an even bigger boost since the band signed with I Hate. The Swedish record label is well-rooted in the metal scene and has a healthy roster of artists, among them The Gates of Slumber, Wall of Sleep and Isole. “We’re very happy with our new label”, Bell affirms. “They have a very good PR network meaning they can get our music all over the place. Thanks to the label’s contacts After The Fall has been reviewed by the leading international metal magazines, including Metal Hammer, Terrorizer, Scream, Kerrang! and lots of other essential metal webzines”. Of course, there’s also the simple but significant fact that the band has, over the years, garnered a burgeoning reputation for producing genuine, passionate Doom metal opuses. “Yes of course, we do have an international following, but with a well-oiled label behind us, that audience can only grow, and the sales for the album are pointing in the right direction, we’re happy to confirm”.

Forsaken is one of those bands that have embraced the vinyl format, with all of their previous albums having been released in limited edition vinyl. “Since changing labels, we’ve had to revise our previous arrangements regarding the vinyl edition for the new album”, Bell explains. “We’re confident however that it will be sorted and that like the other albums, After the fall will come out on vinyl too”. And in a bid to counter the shortcomings that deprived their previous album of proper distribution, Forsaken are also discussing the re-issue of their back catalogue which, given that much of their earlier releases are very hard to get hold of, should please recent converts in search of more Forsaken material.

Compared to the spiritually-informed Dominaeon album, After the fall is clearly more direct and edgier, even angrier, although the eternal ‘Good vs Evil’ conflict is again very much present. Stivala confirms this adamantly, but comments that the fans have responded very positively to the new material. “We played three of the new songs live for the first time during one of our gigs last November”, Gatt elaborates, “and four gigs later, those tracks have become live favourites, with the audience taking over the singing”. “That’s very true” Stivala confirms, “because I get to take a vocal break while they’re at it”, he laughs. Breaks however, aren’t a common occurrence in the Forsaken camp. If they’re not working on band stuff, its members are involved in separate projects. For this interview however, those projects remain firmly off the agenda.

Instead, talk switches to the album’s concept which revolves around Man and the manifestation of Evil he has created and that surrounds, even infects his very existence on a daily basis. Bell, who wrote all the lyrics, explains that he used a lot of metaphors in his writing to illustrate this concept. “There are several contemporary references in the songs, and I’ve also helped myself to some ancient mystic Eastern traditions. I tend to reassign new metaphorical roles for the characters I choose to include, morphing them into characters that serve the album’s concept”. The grim topic inevitably imposes itself on the music, namely in the way the sound on After the fall is remarkably ‘in your face’ and hard-hitting, as much in terms of weight as for the rage that often propels the vocal aspect. In the end however, as with much of Bell’s writing, there is a glimmer of hope in the shape of Metatron, a saviour offering Man a lifeline should he conscientiously wish to change his ways and truly save the world.

An epic story by all means and told in the most epic of ways. This is what Forsaken does best. It is why they are rated among the best of their genre on a global scale. It’s also why they keep getting invited to perform abroad regularly. “Our next foreign gig so far will be at the BrainstormFest in Holland in November, but before that, we’ll be performing live at Liquid Club in San Gwann on June 26”. The gig, which is powered by The AV Warehouse will probably be Forsaken’s last until after the summer, and local upcoming psych Prog-rockers Sepia will be supporting.

Forsaken website

Forsaken at MySpace