A Forest of Stars, ‘Opportunistic Thieves of Spring’ — New Album

A Forest of Stars are about as far from 'ordinary' as you can get before turning into Lady Gaga. This U.K. quintuplet have been raising eyebrows and banging heads in equal measure throughout their short career; though the band itself came to life in 2007, its members seem wholly stuck in the past, with a decidedly Victorian take on aesthetics. A look at their Myspace page reveals band members in steampunk garb, entreaties to "please use your electronic mail daemon" to contact the band and a top friends section that shouts out Queen Victoria and Nikola Tesla. Their influences? "Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India."

They describe themselves as "a bunch of inebriated, soporific wastrels pissing about," but this writer's more inclined to believe that A Forest of Stars are more interested in taking the piss out of uber-serious metal bands, especially those of the blacker persuasion. The page headline of "To the gallows with your lack of humour!" provides satisfyingly damning evidence.

Their latest album, 'Opportunistic Thieves of Spring,' is a transcendental voyage through humanity's labyrinthine history, one that twists psychedelic meanderings into haunting black metal and ghostly strings, augmented by Middle Eastern percussion and a decidedly otherworldly feel. Katherine, Queen of the Ghosts (who moonlights in doom'n'gloom gothic metallers My Dying Bride) added to the mystery with her ethereal vocals, weeping violin and impish flute interludes.

Fittingly, it was Transcendental Creations that recently released the beast, a label known for its forward-thinking and oftentimes strange releases. One listen to 'Opportunistic Thieves of Spring,' though, and you're hooked. After all, was it not a wise man that once said, "There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion"?

'Opportunistic Thieves of Spring' track list

1. 'Sorrow's Impetus'

2. 'Raven's Eye View'

3. 'Summertide's Approach'

4. 'Thunder's Cannonade'

5. 'Starfire's Memory'

6. 'Delay's Progression'