Band: Forest Stream
Title: The Crown Of Winter
Label: Candlelight Records
Distribution: Plastic Head Distribution
Release date: September 2009
Review: CD

Forest Stream were formed in 1995 at about forty km from Moscow, Russia, by Sonm and Omin. With new bass player Silent Anth, Forest Stream recorded two demo tapes, which were very highly received in Russia and Ukraine, but it wasn’t until the release of the debut studio album, Tears Of Mortal Solitude (Earache, 2002), they were introduced outside the former Iron Curtain. Personally I do consider Tears … as one of the strongest (Gothic-oriented) Doom-Death Metal albums from eastern Europe ever.
Throughout the years the band suffered from internal and external problems, among which line-up changes, equipment theft and the destruction of their rehearsal room, yet Forest Stream were also able to play with bands as Katatonia and Cradle Of Filth. And when Candlelight Records offered the band a three-album deal, Forest Stream were eager to enter the studio soon.
The Crown Of Winter shows a progression within Forest Stream’s music. Still the influences of, especially, the early nineties’ UK-based scene - think Winter, Anathema and My Dying Bride - are of high importance, yet at the same time the band widened its musical vision more than before. So(m)ber intermezzos à la Katatonia or Autumnblaze, blackened parts in the vein of Bloodthorn, Emperor and Cradle Of Filth, progressive elements with an Opeth-attitude, or even a Prophecy-approach, and many atmospheric pieces are injected to the Doom-hymns. The variety between the songs is remarkable, even though the overall sound is comparable to Tears Of Mortal Solitude’s. The album might seem less heavy than its predecessor, yet it is as dark and oppressing as the former one.
Mixed by Brett Caldas-Lima (Xerath, To-Mera, Kalisia, Malmonde, Imperial Vengeance etc).
Duration: almost an hour (the intro and outro last less than four minutes together, the six other tracks have, so be it, an average duration of over nine minutes each).
Oh yes, this ‘is’ Majesty!?! Now awaiting Hate? (got it?)

83/100

Ivan Tibos.