This first release on Galy Records represents the first studio album for Quebec gothic metallers Howling Syn. Existing for some time as a one-man band, Howling Syn has developed a large following through their mp3.com website, and their e-mail list. Their five earlier albums, released through mp3.com, showed great promise, and traced the development of Howling Syn's music. With the addtion of Sophie LeMay, in 1999, as an operatic vocalist, it was apparent that the band was going to reach new heights, and drummer Eric Mireault joined. Having earned $11,000(US) from their songs on mp3.com since January of 2000, in 2001, it was time for Howling Syn to finally record in a studio. Forebearers of Dusk is the final product of this studio endeavor.

Divided into two conceptual chapters, this album tells the tales of a quest for the return of the night, and the battle of Avalon. The music accompanying these stories can be compared to the likes of Therion, Ancient Wisdom and, for some of the vocals, Sisters of Mercy. This brings me to my first, nit-picking point: the male vocals of Patryk Pigeon. While the music is wonderful and epic sounding, at times, Patryk's clean vocals, sounding like Andrew Eldritch, don't seem to fit the music, or to work fully as a counterpoint of Sophie's operatic vocals. At times, I think a male operatic style might suit the music better, although, I must say that Patryk's other vocal stylings always fit very well.

My only other nit-picky point with the album is the cover. Done as an homage to the earlier, synth-based albums, it is very obviously CG, with straight-lines and sharp divisions between objects, and I think that cover art should be more organic in feel.

Other than those minor points, this is a great debut studio album, and will appeal to fans of Therion, Moonspell and Ancient Wisdom, and I look forwards to the day Howling Syn plays a show in Ontario.

by Chris Wagner