Description

I wasn't too sure what to expect from ‘The Black Forest’. The cover art kind of turned me off. I mean a sepia coloured image of a long haired guy holding a horse in what appears to be the entrance to a field. I mean the guy looks like James LeBrie of Dream Theater and the cover art looks like something you may find on a bad goth or country album. So, I read some reviews to see what it was all about. It peaked my interest but I still had my doubts. Lesson here…do not judge a book by its cover! Didn't my mom tell me that? One must spend as much time discussing the ‘theme’ as the music itself, because on ‘The Black Forest’ the theme has a direct impact on the music. Described by the band on their website as: ‘The Black Forest’ is what some may call a ‘concept album’ ,one mega tune of 56 minutes prog bliss – but cut into separate slices, to digest easier. ‘The Black Forest’ is a surreal journey – a mysteriously glowing metaphor for a trip thru dark, disturbing, scary times, a lifelong uncertain journey bookended by greed, lust, hunger for power and money, eternal life, mind control’. ‘The Black Forest’ is a fantastic work. Definitely a much harder sound than on DramaRama, but still undeniably Agents of Mercy. I was concerned that I was going to hear some type of stripped down sound, maybe an attempt to be more metal. Fortunately, they did not reinvent themselves, but show that they can keep their sound but produce heavier music as well. This is not flowery prog but as one can tell by the band's description, prog with a a bit harder edge to it. It is not overpowering but the themes are pretty dark and the musical sound matches the theme. Lyrics are not offensive or even PG rated, but they are not uplifting; but neither is everything in human nature. But not to worry! Prog lovers still get soaring keyboards from Lalle Larsson and fantastic guitar passages from Roine Stolt. They interchange with each other through out every song almost trying to out do the other. Flower King mates Stolt and Reingold (bass) seem to be let loose by the theme and have much more freedom, and dare I say ‘abandon’, in their playing. Jonas even gets a bit funky in ‘A Quiet Little Town’. In short, and not to be cliché, they rock! I like the subtle change of sound as it keeps the group's sound from getting stale and "same old, same old", but at the same time it is not totally different. You want Agents music and you get it. As described, even though it could be listened to as one continuous piece of music they have broken it down into completely separate songs. This does make it more accessible because even though there is a consistent sound and feel throughout, each track can indeed stand on its own, and not break the continuity. I can't really find a weak track, they are all strong. The only really slow number is the ballad like "Elegy" but Roine's guitar solo at the end sends chills down my spine. "Elegy" is sandwiched between two equally great songs: "Black Sunday" and then followed by the blistering ‘Citadel’. Black Forest is every bit as good as DramaRama and everything else that comes out of the "Flower Kings and Swedish camp" of prog. But, it manages to do away with subtleties and makes you take notice that it wants to be listened to loud. Just be warned that this is music about greed, lust, hunger for power and money, eternal life, mind control. That said…I could still listen to it on a ‘bad day’ and it would make the bad day much better. Track listing: 1. The Black Forest 2. A Quiet Little Town 3. Black Sunday 4. Elegy 5. Citadel 6. Between Sun And Moon 7. Freak Of Life 8. Kingdom Of Heaven