Having already heard of Howling Syn through their MP3.com success (where they got up to number one position on the metal charts), I was eager to hear their first official album. The band is into a gothic, medieval style embellished by poetry and an angelic voice. I instantly loved their unique style, because Howling Syn seems to be able to avoid all the clichés of the genres they embrace, without straying from the themes (or lyrics) related to that style. Forebearers of Dusk is an album that must be savoured slowly and I am certain that it will please many of you because it doesn't get tiring like too many medieval or gothic metal albums tend to. Forebearers of Dusk can go from a song that could play at gothic bars like Black Moon to a Therion-quality song like Night Charmers. In short, I think this album brings a fresh new wind to these two highly-stereotyped genres and I recommend it to all who like to mingle with the dark side and the lore of our ancestors.

by Francis "DJ Ostrogoth"

Translated from French