Album Review: Hornwood Fell – Cursed Thoughts (Kadabra Music)

Owners of a distinctive sound that draws influences from avantgarde metal and other different spectrums, Italy’s Hornwood Fell’s new album ‘Cursed Thoughts’ is set to be released on June 26th 2020 via Kadabra Music.

Cursed Thoughts is a concept album divided into two parts, with Hornwood Fell exploring “Les Fleurs Du Mal” by Charles Baudelaire (tracks 1-6) and poems from Edgar Allan Poe (tracks 7-13).

The band comments on the chosen concept:

We were inspired by two great poets who speak of human despair. Inner monsters and ghosts, horror and pain. Two authors with different voices, with whom we have imagined and played with, and made different musical lines with the intent of evoking human and earthly energies.

A powerful force of blackened metal comes erupting out of the geyser that is Hornwood Fell with The Joyous Defunct. Concentrated heaviness, it’s not until around halfway that the avantgarde metaller’s start to show off their more atmospheric side. The end result is downright stunning, expanded on as the album goes on.

It should be no surprise that this is a record of magnitude. A record with incredible depths, as heavy as it is striking. Magnetic Horror and Obsession going some way to ensure this is a cherished listen.

The Possessed One, The Spiritual Dawn and The Giantess wrap up the “Les Fleurs Du Mal” by Charles Baudelaire segment. A trio of potent and provocative efforts.

Upping the sense of darkness by basing the second half of the concept on some of Edgar Allan Poe’s poems. Both Dream-Land and The Spirits of the Dead are an explosive showcase of black metal, The vocals howl, the guitars scream bloody murder and the drums deliver hard hitting body blows. Hornwood Fell drawing deeply from the well of bleak blackness.

It is a gruelling listen, especially if you’re doing it in one complete sitting but it’s worthwhile. The epic melody and thumping intro of Alone, a wonderfully emotive start that bleeds into a monumentality strong offering. The Divine Right of Kings is arguably even more imposing and lavish while The Lake is choking and elongated harshness.

This inconceivable effort closes out with two final powerhouses in The Sleeper and The Valley of Unrest. Both as ruthless and categorically intense as anything heard so far. The perfect way to end Cursed Thoughts.

Hornwood Fell – Cursed Thoughts Full Track Listing:

1. The Joyous Defunct
2. Magnetic Horror
3. Obsession
4. The Possessed One
5. The Spiritual Dawn
6. The Giantess
7. Dream-Land
8. The Spirits Of The Dead
9. Alone
10. The Divine Right Of Kings
11. The Lake
12. The Sleeper
13. The Valley Of Unrest

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Kadabra Music