Aokigahara is a forest located at the base of Mount Fuji. The forest is reportedly so thick, even at high noon, there are certain areas that are cast in complete darkness. The forest is most famous as a suicide spot. It all started when an author named Seicho Matsumoto published a novel called Black Sea of Trees which includes a scene where two of his characters commit suicide in Aokigahara. Always eager to prove they are bizarrely susceptible to suggestion, hundreds of young Japanese people have killed themselves there. (Source) With a reputation like that, I'm surprised it isn't popular as a lyrical subject in black metal. Well Terraforms is here to change that. They even called their first EP Aokigahara. Let's see if they can do the place justice.
The first song is an entirely acoustic piece. It's rather calm and peaceful, which isn't how you'd expect a black metal album to start. The remaining two thirds of the album are black metal. The guitars have cloudy distortion about them that exudes a dark atmosphere. Above that play the lead guitars that whirl and fly chaotically like phantoms of misery. The drums sound so clear and pristine. The snare has this nice pop to it and he executes a great deal of superb beats and fills. The vocals don't show up until the last song. They're hidden under the fog, but they sound like a malevolent spirit beckoning you into the deep darkness of the forest.
Aokigahara is a great first release and I'm eager to see what Terraforms will conjure forth next.
You can download the album for free or buy a physical copy at theirofficial Bandcamp page.
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