Returning after six years to follow up on the debut album ‘Ashen Dirge of Kingslain’, Forlorn Citadel offers an imagined realm of lofty castles surrounded by mountains, whereas the music pulls you back to the era of 90s black metal. ‘An Oath Undone’ welcomes the listener to the medieval sounds of epic battles.

The atmospheric soundscapes captivate the ears from the start of this album and submerge the listener in an immersive journey where each song unfolds in epic lengths. In under forty minutes, the multi-instrumentalist wrought his magic, enchanting the listener with heavily guitar-laden tremolo riffs and thundering tom-tom drums. The sense of nostalgia is reminiscent of Summoning’s classic album ‘Minas Morgul’, and throughout these five tracks, the dreamy soundscapes of the synth weave something otherworldly that transports the listener to an ancient, magical realm.

The opening track ‘Ironclad’ presents pure magic and begins with a synth intro, blending the dungeon-style synth with raw black metal and pounding drums. The music has a simple composition but delivers a moody and fantastical vibe to the menacing shrieks. At times, the guitars are pushed to the forefront with the drums. The unique approach resurrects the sound of might; the music emits majesty. The reverb guitars and shrieks fit the music perfectly. Forlorn Citadel reminisces Caladan Brood, maintaining the atmosphere throughout the album.

The sharper tremolo contrasts with the hammering drums, while the tempo ranges from slow to symphonic keyboard-driven. The music shines in its epic atmosphere, offering a hypnotic effect similar to Summoning’s ‘Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame’. The lo-fi feel of dungeon synth enhances the mood while emphasizing the same atmospheric effect as the music tells ancient epic tales of warriors, goblins, and sorcery.

‘Ascend into the Mist’ portrays a dark sentiment. This epic song begins at a slower pace, with ornate synth work and echoing tremolo-style guitars providing a backdrop. The primitive sound of the keyboards is wonderfully matched to the pounding drums and grim black metal vocals. The quality of the music really wraps layers of synth. It’s worth mentioning that the dramatic melody is rooted in dungeon synth. The composition of each song is diverse; the keyboards create dark passages, adding to the mesmerizing mood.

The instrumental track ‘The Return’ is a fine work that pays tribute to the medieval-style dungeon synth. It begins with a mysterious intro in the next song ‘Torchlit Granite Leads the Way’, which begins with heavy percussion, icy-cold tremolo riffs and synth, adding to the growing atmosphere.

Epic guitar moments and the overall gloomy sound conjure up images of ancient landscapes. The somber atmosphere is charming while the riffs and the catchy synth echo with reverb-heavy guitar. Forlorn Citadel’s sophomore is really majestic. Melancholy settles deep into the musical composition in the final track ‘Rusted Steel (An Oath Undone)’ and begins with a medieval synth. The howling vocals and guitars add a unique feeling to the song structures. The sense of majesty, together with fragments of beautiful synth and haunting melodies, make a highly pleasant and rewarding listen.

Links