Legend: Forged in Defiance

Third album for this side-project of Frank Allain from Fen, who bills himself as "The Watcher" in case we didn't get that he's into Summoning. There is definitely some DNA from late-period Summoning in this, but also a lot of other moody stuff like Saor or Druadan Forest. This has a harder edge than last time out, with a lot more heaviness and guitar-focused songwriting mixed in with the epic keys and soundscapes. It sounds a good bit more like later Graveland this time, and it does a lot to bring this album to life over the more mellow previous works like Wreathed in Mourncloud. I can't say this is a classic, and it took a bit to really grow on me, but it is definitely worth checking out.