FEN — Dustwalker (review)

FEN — Dustwalker album cover Album · 2013 · Atmospheric Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Dustwalker" is the 3rd full-length studio album by UK black metal/shoegaze act Fen. The album was released through code666 in January 2013. Since the release of "Epoch (2011)" drummer Theutus has been replaced by Derwydd and keyboard player Æðelwalh has left the band. As a consequence "Dustwalker" was recorded as a trio consisting of Derwydd (drums), The Watcher (lead vocals, guitars) and Grungyn (bass, vocals).

...the new trio format and the lack of a keyboard player replacement, have quite a bit of impact on how "Dustwalker" sounds compared to the first two albums. But then again, the basic core of the band´s music is still intact and you are never in doubt that it is Fen you´re listening to. I´d say "Dustwalker" leans a bit more toward the shoegaze part of Fen´s sound, but there are still several raw yet atmosperic black metal parts on the album too. The epic majestic element that was often created with the use of keyboards on the first couple of albums, is not as prominent on "Dustwalker", but I´d still call the music epic albeit in a slightly different way. The vocals alternate between raspy black metal type vocals and melancholic clean vocals. It´s still the influence from artists like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive that are most prominent in the music (of course paired with an atmospheric and raw black metal sound) but the vocal delivery in "Hands of Dust" also brings Joy Division into the picture as an influence.

The organic and raw sound production suits the music perfectly and proves to be another asset to an already great album release by Fen. The tracks are generally very long (most of them between 7 and 13 minutes long) and the 66:48 minutes long album requires both patience and many spins before all details unveil themselves. It will probably be debated among fans if they prefer they "old" sound with the dominant synths or the more organic and simple three-piece sound of "Dustwalker". Personally it took some getting used to, but upon conclusion I think it´s great that Fen have opted for a slightly different musical approach this time around. Both because it works really well but also because it makes "Dustwalker" stand out from their first two albums. A 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.
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UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I also like Epoch better but this one as greatly enjoyable too.
bartosso wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great review with apt references not only to the obvious shoegaze exponents like MBV but also a surprising yet well-founded one to Joy Division, very interesting ! Hands of Dust is definitely my favourite track in the album but as a whole, Dustwalker's no match for excellent Epoch.

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