Engaging Tolkeinesque ramblings from UK symphonic metallers
For a band stating in their PR blurb that they avoid cliche, naming themselves after a Tolkein creation was probably a bad (and unweildy) start. I'm waiting for the band that name themselves after a Pratchett novel. Regardless, the name does set the tone for the whole album. The haunting strains of Celtic melody and folk music blended with overdriven riffs, pummeling drums and roaring vocals suits FA well.
Superficially, the whole thing sounds like an attempt to re-record Opeth's 'Blackwater Park'. Even some of the riffs sound disturbingly familiar. In terms of style and structure, there's not much to tell between the two bands, which is disappointing at times. It begins with real promise; Elle Torry and Sam Austin's vocals on 'Rogue' seem to be chanelling Mostly Autumn's best efforts in their restrained and beautiful exchanges. Rather than blasting into outright metal such as 'Nameless Fear', FA's strength lies in their folk-rock moments and exceptional technical ability as a group. The whole album is laced with gorgeously simple melodies that bind the album together.
The only criticism of this method is it is tricky to know where one track ends and another begins, and it begins to drag along as one big chugging, tired leviathan if you weren't expecting long tracks. The double-header 'Death of a Rose' and the sweet 'Farewell' are their saving graces. They are a great showcase for everything this band do. They can start and stop, change tempo, go off at tangents, and twiddle the volume with precision timing. It's sometimes hard to understand precisely what this achieves, but it has fantastic moments. Technically, it's expertly executed and an exciting listen. Not a note is wasted nor an unnecessary lyric uttered. The highlights are Sam Austin's clean vocals, imbuing the winding melodies with story, depth, and meaning, played off against Greg Chivers' deep roar. If they are determined to go down the route trodden many a-time by Opeth, at least they do it to the very highest standard. They may even steal a few fans. An essential listen for sophisticated prog-metal fans.