Split Review: Lotus Thief / Forlesen – “Lotus Thief – Forlesen” (Black/Doom/Post-/Drone)

Written by Kirk

What do you know about black metal? While the history of black metal has been muddied by the racist and xenophobic tendencies of some of its forebears, nothing can compare with its inherently raw, amalgamous nature. Easily the most intense and extreme sub-genre of heavy metal, as an art form, it cannot, at its core, bear any singular meaning or ideal. These are and always have been inferred by the observer, often to great detriment.

Now, before you argue that heavy metal is, by nature, deeply anti-religion, I will remind you that Christian heavy metal does exist (sadly), as well as other various iterations of our beloved heavy music. I’m not arguing the validity of these other forms of heavy metal, merely referencing them to support my statement. It’s what the art is used for—its grand purpose—that makes all the difference. But alas, some people are destined—perhaps even doomed—to continue to perpetuate the negative stereotypes associated with heavy metal.

Fortunately, I am here to discuss two bands that do everything in their power to fight these the negative stereotypes: Lotus Thief and Forlesen. Formed in 2012, Lotus Thief is the epitome of the thinking man’s metal. Fusing ambient black metal with post-rock and a healthy dose of doom metal, they coined the term “text metal” by revitalizing ancient texts as concept albums. First appearing on Botanist’s Doom in Bloom, they have released albums based on the 55 BCE philosophical piece “De Rerum Natura” (2014’s Rervm), ancient texts of sorcery and paganism (2016’s Gramarye), and a retelling of Greek tragedian Aeschylus’s epic trilogy (2020’s Oresteia). Like I said, the thinking man’s metal.

Created seemingly from the ether in 2016, Forlesen became something of a shadowy reflection of Lotus Thief, taking the darker, heavier elements of Lotus Thief’s sound, injecting them with a healthy dose of atmosphere, and slowing them down even more. The fact that three quarters of Forlesen’s lineup is composed of half of Lotus Thief’s lineup likely has something to do with that—Bezaelith, Petit Albert, and Ascalaphus are nothing if not versatile—and the addition of (former?) Kayo Dot drummer Maleus really helps to round things out, bringing a wealth of abstract influences along with him. But they make exceptionally technical, expansive, and somewhat grandiose compositions that are both otherworldly and enchanting. In no way something you can listen to “casually,” a Forlesen album is at the very least a full-body experience.

So, is it cheating for Lotus Thief and Forlesen to release a split EP since they share so many of the same members? …Does it matter? From the Lotus Thief side, the very post-rock forward “In Perdition” is based on Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th Century text “The Decameron,” a collection of short stories that take place during the Black Death. It serves as a reminder that there have been pandemics before and will be again, but with terror comes hope. Opening with a soft, mournful acoustic guitar, like a lonesome prayer to a seemingly uncaring god, the songs swells with chaotic force as a cascade of panic voices rise up to the heavens as they cry out for mercy. And those cries are eventually answered, as, through isolation, salvation is attained until we once again hear that soft, mournful acoustic guitar, one final prayer marking the end of their suffering.

On the Forlesen side, an ominous drum beat opens “Black is the Color,” thunderous like that of a medieval funeral procession. Pulsing, cavernous, and darker than hell, this song serves to remind us that, even in the wake of terrible events that are beyond our control, we should never take for granted our own survival. Throughout history, there have been numerous events—more often than not tragic—that have served to remind that, above all else, we are brethren in spite of our differences. Sickness knows nothing of social hierarchy. It doesn’t care where you were born, where you live, if you’re rich or poor, or if you’re a man or a woman. Eventually it comes for us all, and, as the chorus repeats again and again and again, “We will be as one”. The hard part, though, is remembering this lesson once the sickness has passed. Because, if not, we may be the next to die. Will the drums beat the same for you?

THE BOTTOM LINE

If Lotus Thief and Forlesen have taught us anything, it’s that you should never judge a book by its cover. Music, like all art, is a vessel of expression, artistic or otherwise. It can be used to spread messages of peace, hope, and love, or it can be used to give new life to things lost to the passage of time. Is black metal by nature harsh and abrasive? Yes, but it can also be a vessel for enlightenment. Learning your history is important. Knowledge is power, and everyone has a right to knowledge. It’s what you do with that knowledge that makes all the difference.