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I can't say I was particularly thrilled when I heard that Old Forest had rerecorded Into the Old Forest, their 1999 album and the first I got some 20 years ago. It's one of my favourite black metal albums (because that's that), so I was apprehensive. I didn't like Back into the Old Forest when I first got it and just put it aside for a while. Now, this new version has grown on me. The atmosphere from the original is largely intact despite a richer sound and a more modern production. The album maintains that very evil vibe that makes you afraid to walk into the forest alone at night, and its other main "attraction", its catchiness, is also still a thing here. Into the Old Forest, despite being dark as hell with its frightening cold atmosphere was very catchy; it's an album that stuck in my head from the get-go and still pops up out of nowhere after all these years, prompting me to give it a regular listen. Back Into the Old Forest is largely similar in that respect. I still prefer the original, though, as it was more raw and that gave the atmosphere more kick. Good stuff from a band that should be better known.