TRACK LIST:
1. Delta Hours 4:34
2. Change the World 5:45
3. Spring Is Coming 4:13
4. Into the Lion's Den 5:43
5. Rain in May 5:04
6. Eyewitness 5:52
7. Circles 4:03
8. A Silent Cry 6:11
9. Autumn Sky 4:32
10. Trading Places 6:00
11. Storm in November 7:32
12. On the Edge of Winter 3:35
LINE UP :
Phil Vincent - vocals
Peter Cox - all instruments, voice
with:
Vince O'Regan - guitars
Prolusion.
Dutch band Forest Field is a venture revolving around the ideas of composer and musician Peter Cox. The first album to be released under the Forest Field moniker appeared back in 2013, and so far six studio albums have been released by this project band. The most recent of these is called "Seasons", and was made available through the label Rock Company in the fall of 2019.
Analysis.
While I understand that Forest Field is a venture that seeks to combine a number of different elements into a greater whole, the material present on this album is one that by and large falls in under the hard rock category. Some tangents in the direction of progressive rock are present though, although not really to the extent that I'd choose to classify this production as one that falls within the parameters of the genre as such.
It would appear that the band have been going for an album with a big sound here, as the arrangements by and large come across as majestic and powerful. The guitars are beefed up, the keyboards tend to be layered and the sound of the keyboard pushed up in the mix, and the sound is rich and majestic throughout. Melodies and harmonies are otherwise the focus points here, and melodic hard rock is a classification that fits a lot of the material here. Some gentler interludes and delicate details here and there do add a progressive touch to the proceedings, but not to the extent that this becomes a dominant feature. The inclusion of quite a few classic hard rock features with guitar and organ combinations are more dominant than the progressive aspects of the music as such, but that aspect is also more of a secondary one here as the guitar and keyboard combinations are the dominant element throughout.
While this is a production that has a lot going for it in the melodic hard rock department, this is also an album that comes with some shortcomings that will be divisive, and where the individual listeners' preferences will be very much deciding on whether or not this album will be found enjoyable. The overall mix and production is one such aspect, as that part of the experience is one I'd describe as below average. The songs sound a bit off and a bit odd to me, and the busier parts of the songs have a tendency to become muddy walls of sound rather than clearly defined instrument textures you can easily separate. A lesser issue are the drums, which to my ears come across as a bit one-dimensional, and to the point that I wouldn't be surprised if they at least in some instances were programmed.
How much of an issue or not these aspects of the album will be is obviously a subjective matter, but in my experience at least both of these issues will be detrimental to some extent, particulars of this album that will limit the overall appeal of the album somewhat.
Conclusion.
This most recent studio effort by Forest Field is a production I suspect will have its main audience among fans of melodic hard rock. Progressive rock fans with a taste for melodic hard rock might also find this album to be of interest of course. But for both sets of potential listeners a pre-listen will be in order, as this is a production with sides to it that some will find to be detrimental. A fine album for the right audience, but one with a bit more of a limited and niche appeal in my view.
Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room
