ninehertz

Self-described “plant-powered doom from the swamps of West Michigan”, Forest Horse sound right up my street before I’ve heard or learnt anything more. One run through of Botany proves this to be correct.

The first couple of tracks sell it to you immediately. A Stirring provides a solid doom beginning, where sombre vocals lead to an almost serene atmosphere that’s nice to dwell in, whilst the excellent Spore Lord has a dreamy feel despite the genre-befitting tone being of a sizeable fuzzy girth. The silly sci-fi lyrics here are pleasing too.

Following this opening couplet Forest Horse lapse a little into genre tropes and leaning into their influences a little too much. There are a few moments of the occult- side of the genre which usher in inevitable Electric Wizard comparisons and Ritual Reckoning drops into pure Sleep worship. It sounds great, they do it as well as any and I am more than happy with that so don’t get me wrong, but they album shines all the brighter when standing slightly aside from the genre forefathers.

Thankfully this is the case for the majority of the record, such as on The Fallen Limb whose sludge vocals curl like tendrils around the deliciously doom tone guitars; yes, there’s a touch of Wizard here but a few steps removed this time, and a Truckfighters meets Bongzilla stoner ending which is delicious.

Forest Horse have nestled into a little niche within a crowded genre, their own little space within stoner/doom with their own personality shining through in the music. It feels familiar, but fresh, ultimately making for an excellent album.