Album Reviews: Pallbearer, Forgotten Days

By Resonate | November 20, 2020

Words by Kris Griffiths

Soaring vocals set to gorgeous guitar-monies; if you have not heard of Pallbearer by now their newest release on Nuclear Blast Records is here to remedy that. Forgotten Days is a haunting and transcending record taking influence from prog while retaining all the doomy authenticity fans worship and respect. 

The words of Brett Campbell and Joseph Rowland detail the complex emotions of the human condition with candor and sensitivity. Themes of despair and regret weave themselves tightly into sinister tales of nihilism. The opening cries of dark clouds approaching seem highly apt for Forgotten Days is truly a storm of the mind; blustery and ferocious, it lurches between tranquility and calamity. The title track hits mean and hard, thunder and lightning, classic metal riffage drenched in fuzz. It’s hard to ignore the personal nature of the lyrics, an agonising questioning of reality and a descent into disassociation. 

The epic Silver Wings spans 12 minutes and 18 seconds, delivering the harrowing portrayal of a man battling with the irrelevance of his life in the face of the universe’s infinity. Sensitive, well-paced and engrossing, it embodies the essence of Pallbearer, showcasing their wisdom and technical capability through their subtle and calculated output. The Quicksand of Existence and Vengeance & Ruination however offer less diverse and more structured arrangements, where brash industrial rhythms fuel menacing grooves.

Rite Of Passage offers much of the cold and expansive atmosphere set by the first tracks and does well to neither under or overwhelm in the face of the finale –Caledonia; eight minutes of sonic mastery, combining dueling guitar with long and winding passages that evolve seamlessly around the rhythm and vocals. A crushing finale for a crushing album.  A truly intense and personal experience, Forgotten Days is undeniably beautiful; a sorrow romanticised and played out across thought provoking narratives. 

8/10

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