Eye of Melian‘s Forest of Forgetting is a highly ambitious project aimed squarely at those who appreciate grandiose sounds closely linked to cinema. Indeed, Eye Of Melian rests on two cornerstones represented by Delain‘s Martijn Westerholt and Auri’s Johanna Kurkela; whose delicate voice narrates the story, giving the episodes that follow in the track list (twelve in total) a marked personal touch.
The main inspiration for Forest of Forgetting
The inspiration for the initiative is clearly J. R. R. Tolkien, whose daring spirit hovers over Forest of Forgetting, evidently feeding the narrative principles that animate it (the album should be understood as a true story). Every single song benefits from meticulous attention to the arrangement and the seemingly uninterrupted flow of the melodies. Actually, they’re achieving a formal perfection that makes Forest of Forgetting perhaps overly ceremonious. But this is clearly the intention of the authors, who aim to offer an intrinsically attractive work, almost (or perhaps definitely) in contrast to today’s ugliness.
Rather a serene approach
Not a symphonic and furious black reinterpretation like that of the Austrian band Summoning (and others) but rather a serene approach. As welcoming as Hobbiville, thus establishing a point of contact with the (now ancient) work of Swedish composer Pär Lindh. (“Bilbo,” in collaboration with Björn Johansson, first printed in 1996 and then reissued in 2019). Forest of Forgetting is a striking, unified composition, which, with its exquisite orchestrations, paints solemn landscapes. In fact, to note the timely presence, in two tracks, of the hurdy-gurdy and uillean pipes, played by Nightwish and Auri‘s Troy Donockley. Incontrovertibly, the attentive listener will traverse, albeit only in their imagination, accompanied, almost taken by the hand, by Johanna and her companions.
Forest of Forgetting: “It is almost a work outside of today’s time”
It is almost (and I am referring to the daily ugliness I mentioned earlier) a work outside of today’s time. But not without its own peculiar character, which will surely find full expression live, its natural element. In fact, a series of dates has already been set to support it, including some Finnish dates in March and the release party at the Hedon, in Zwolle.
The end of the album holds a surprise, a very moving interpretation of a track from the solo production of Bruce Dickinson, another magnificent narrator of epics, Tears of the Dragon (from Balls to Picasso, 1994). Let’s head to the Shire with a spring in our step and a peaceful spirit.
Tracklist
- Of Willows and Shadows
- Symphonia Arcana
- Child of Twilight
- Elixir of Night (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
- Blackthorn Winter
- Lady of Light
- Dawn of Avatars (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
- Forest of Forgetting
- The Buried Well
- The Mirror
- Nepenthe
- Tears of the Dragon (Bruce Dickinson Cover)
Line Up
- Martijn Westerholt – Keys and Orchestral arrangements
- Johanna Kurkela – Vocals and Violin
- Robin La Joy – Backing Vocals
- Mikko P Mustonen – Keys and Orchestral arrangements