Warforged is one of those bands that has eight and a half million labels used to describe their music. From black metal, technical, death to proggy, I think each and every promo notification I received for this band labeled the band with something different. The multitude of labels are actually appropriate as not a single track on The Grove | Sundial (The Artisan Era), the band’s second album, sounds the same on this album.

Opening track, ‘No Man’s Land’ slowly builds with intense moods and plenty of black metal inspired shrieks and darkened growls. The opening bass line is menacing as fuck. The sound is pretty complex for standard black metal fare with more layers than a Taco Bell burrito. ‘Hymn of Broken Teeth’ is another heavy track with some cool riffs and enjoyable solos.

 

‘Sheridan Road’ feels completely out of place on this recording with its clean vocals and acoustic guitars. I honestly had to check to see if I was listening to the same band. It feels like someone actually recorded over the track that was supposed to be there. The heavy does kick in later but not until the damage is already done. The band does experiment from time to time with clean vocals on the rest of the album but on this track it really falls flat.

 

The album closer ‘Painted Heart’ starts off as a somber track with both clean vocals and growls and haunting melodies. It continues to go back and forth from somber to heavy and can be unpredictable and hard to follow. While the musicianship is there it’s not the most comfortable listen.

The guys in Warforged can write some looming and dark material but their sound and style may not be for everyone.

 

Buy the album here: https://warforged.bandcamp.com/album/the-grove-sundial

 

6 / 10

ANDREW RISCH