Rating: 8/10
Release: 9 June 2012
Label: Independent

Maglor is a Canadian black metal band founded in 2001 and they released their first album last year. Here’s a review of a surprisingly calming album.
It all starts with a quiet intro which transforms to their first real song. I hope somebody can explain to me why the title of the next song is in Norwegian? I can understand Skoger av Doden sounds far better than Forest of the Dead, but be constistant and do everything in Norwegian. Or was it to disguise they get their influences from Summoning? My thought went to Land of the Dead by this Austrian band immediately.
The songs are about nature and old tales. When you use a different language for the songs why not one of the many Inuit dialects? But it’s still a tribute to the beautiful nature of their own country, a culture full of ancient tales.
Despite the fact one of the theme’s they use is ancient folklore they don’t use folk-elements like traditional instruments. They do use the orchestral compositions which are characteristic for epic black and they use screams for vocals. The drums are sometimes quite pronounced but they do fit nicely to the orchestral elements and guitarriffs.
Simple guitarriffs, but it doesn’t have to be complicated, otherwise the music would lose its atmospheric powers. Most of the songs have quite some length, especially Summoned. But this is alsa an extremely good song! In fact this isn’t an album which bores one single moment, this is an album which you can sit down for. But the question pops up, can they do this live as well. Because despite the tempo-changes and the screaming vocals Call of the Forest is in fact a very ‘easy listening’. When you do live, it’s difficult to keep the audience captivated.
And then suddenly the album is finished after the titleltrack Call of the Forest.
Something about the artwork. The cover reflects the spirit of the album, you believe you’re in an cold snowy forest.
Maglor breathes Tolkien. The bandname, the pseudonyms and the lyrics. Maybe not alway original but they’re not the only ones.
I have quite a number of points of criticism but they’re not about the music, but in all kind of things around it. The music is solid like a rock! Go sit down in the woods, bring your speakers along and let Maglor carry you away.

Tracklist

1. Skoger av Doden
2. Summoned
3. Under the Night Sky
4. Endless I Wander
5. Call of the Forest