Deciduous Forest - Hymns of Time - Jewel Case CD *PRE-ORDER
The solo project of Snjór, guitarist with Graveir and live guitarist for Hebephrenique, Brimstone and Bruxa, Deciduous Forest first showed signs of life in the winter of 2019. Taking influence from atmospheric black metal, neofolk and blackgaze artists on his native Australian scene, but also from further afield in Europe and America, Snjór's personal creative vision began to take shape. The debut album from Deciduous Forest, Fields Of Yore, was released in 2025 and warmly received by fans and critics, with Metal Temple describing it as a “totally mesmerizing…immersive journey”. Now the follow up album to Fields Of Yore is ready to be unveiled. Featuring songs that gradually found their final form between 2020 and 2025, Hymns Of Time offers both a continuation of Fields Of Yore and an evolution of Deciduous Forest as a whole, revealing more of its sylvan landscape and haunted spirit of betrayal, regret and loss.
Title track, 'Hymns Of Time' opens the doorway into the world of Deciduous Forest, revealing a pathway leading through the shadows beneath the boughs of this arboreal world. The invoked reality gathers strength as the music progresses and when the distorted guitars erupt the forest's hold on the listener is complete. The procession is measured and majestic, but with an uncompromising grit instilled by the raw, harsh vocals, consumed by passion and fire. The spiked riffs of 'Slaves' follows, the melancholy melody carrying the angst-ridden vocals upon bent and broken shoulders through a mist of sorrow and desolation, across rolling rhythms and cascading guitar notes. 'Dream Of Days' sits at the heart of the album, the guitars resonant and emotive, the vocals clawing at the heart with their rasp of regret. Keyboards shine like sunlight through the ragged tapestry of sound creating passages of sheer magnificence. This is a song that could draw tears of remembrance from a stone and it builds to a shattering climax. But as you lie broken the beguiling, dark melodies of 'Celestial Forest' draw you to your feet and lead you deeper into the woods. You pass through layers of emotion and atmosphere, an aura of subtle menace and the sense of drama and unfolding narrative is enhanced by a superb guitar solo. All of which leads, at last, to 'Hireath', where peace, reflection, sadness and emotive power blend in an elixir of light and shadow, providing a stunning conclusion to an impressive, individual and deeply affecting album.
Hymns Of Time will be released through the Apocalyptic Witchcraft label and this new alliance is one which both parties are more than pleased to have formed. Apocalyptic Witchcraft head, Conor Droney has issued the following statement…
"Some of the most exciting black metal bands are coming out of Australia right now, and Deciduous Forest are a perfect example. We're very excited to welcome them to Apocalyptic Witchcraft."
…while Snjór has commented…
“The label's commitment to uncompromising excellence and quality is well known to those who tread in the circles of the extreme or underground. To be counted in such regard with artists who exemplify unyielding commitment to their craft and sound is a privilege not granted to many.”
Recorded and mixed by Adam Merker (Aversions Crown, Disentomb etc) and mastered by Chris Themelco (The Amenta, Werewolves etc), Hymns Of Time sounds vibrant and vivid, possessing sonorous depth and profound and imposing presence. It will be released by Apocalyptic Witchcraft on CD and digital formats on January 29th, a stunning second chapter in the tale of Deciduous Forest.
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
For Fans Of: Wolves In The Throne Room, Agalloch, Panopticon, October Falls
*PRE-ORDER ships January 29th