DARK FOREST – The Awakening

Dark Forest is a British Progressive Metal band (not to be confused with the Canadian Epic Metal band by the same name), and their release entitled The Awakening is their 3^rd to date. The soundscape varies within The Awakening, shifting often between Traditional and Power Metal, but with an overall Epic Metal-influenced feel to the album. Vocalist Josh Winnard comes through too strong in the mix, and the overall high quality musicianship is often playing second fiddle to his voice and heavily weighted lyrics. Because of that, the album fails to reach its potential, thus warranting a very “average” grade.