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Review: Howling Syn - Forebearers of Dusk
Howling Syn
www.howlingsyn.net
Forebearers of Dusk

Label: Galy Records
Year released: 2002
Duration: 61:21
Tracks: 14
Genre: Gothic Metal

Rating:
4/5


Review online: May 8, 2002
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud
Readers' Rating
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Rated 4/5 (80%) (4 Votes)
Review

Anyone who's been in online metal forums in the last couple of years has at least seen the name Howling Syn. Started as a solo project with mostly instrumental songs available on mp3.com, Howling Syn is now a real band and this is their first studio album. To throw this only into the "Medieval Gothic" metal genre would be a bit restrictive, as a couple of songs sound more like power metal. In the same vein as their mp3.com repertoire, this album contains quite a bit of variety and doesn't get boring - in fact the 61 minutes go by pretty fast, something I definitely liked when I was listening to the album at the office. :)

The vocal work is shared by both Patrick Pigeon and Sophie LeMay, sometimes singing together, sometimes in turn. In a couple of places where they are singing simultaneously, it gave a little "overloading" effect as if that part was out of place, but overall the vocal work is great. I especially like their work on "Medieval Years", very catchy stuff (too catchy, I can't get it out of my head!) Patryk varies his voice quite a bit, from very clean vocals to vocals that are not without reminding me *a little* of Dani Filth (but not nearly as annoying - don't worry.) Sophie on the other hand has more of an operatic type of voice, sometimes with a little sad tone that fits the music well.

But for a couple of exceptions, all songs come out as pretty powerful stuff. One song that freaked me out a bit is "Black Moon". The synths sound a bit "Pump up the jam-ish", a bit too dance-techno-whatever. Somebody went synth-crazy here. ;) The use of real instruments to record the album makes the music sound a lot better than the earlier stuff released on mp3.com.

There's so much variety on this album that I could go on for a couple more paragraphs... but I won't. :) This is a very good debut album and Howling Syn have successfully graduated from an essentially MIDI project to the status of real band.

More about Howling Syn...
Interview with Patryk on February 14, 2001 (Interviewed by Michel Renaud)
Interview with Patryk Pigeon on February 10, 2003 (Interviewed by Michel Renaud)
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