Lesbian are tricky to describe but to have a shot I would say they are a shroom worshipping doom metal band from Seattle who play crushingly heavy progressive jams. Their previous albums Power Hor and Stratospheria Cubensis were both truly epic pieces of work designed to take listeners on a trippy yet sometimes brutal voyage through unknown environments where anything could happen. If going on a voyage of this kind is something which appeals to you, not only do I like you but you urgently need to hop on board their latest cosmic offering Forestelevision which is comprised of just a sole 44 minute long song. This opus sees Lesbian somehow smashing down further boundaries that nobody even knows exist and tapping into weird and chaotic parts of your brain to provide you with a carnage filled hallucinogenic experience. Get in!
The album art offers us with clues to Forestelevision, a minimal shot of some woods through a sinister visual effect which is unsettling but also triggers curiosity. This is about escaping daily life and manmade stuff and plugging yourself into Mother Nature for a more primitive life with 100% freedom. This freedom might involve guzzling down the occasional mushroom if you so wish and has also empowered Lesbian to deliver us such a unique metal experience.
It starts with a warm hum of doomy riff with spacey FX lurking in the background before super slow drums kick in and we’re then punished growling mix of death and black metal vocals. Sound heavy? Yes it is fucking heavy and could stand up to just about anyone in that department. It’s slightly unnerving but before you know everything is breaking down into more of a psychedelic vibe, almost like Colour Haze or Earthless have rocked up for a jam. WOAH! We have had lift on this voyage and promised an adventure of a life time. Thankfully it more than delivers! We’re treated to many influences and styles across the album… post-rock, stoner rock, sludge rock and just as you get comfortable it morphs into something else making it a truly cosmic roller-coaster of an experience.
It totally immerses you and plays enchanting games with your imagination. There is a point where you are flying down a pitch black tunnel towards an unknown destination whilst dodging bolts of lightning which reveal subliminal visuals wizards travelling alongside you. I’m not sure what these wizards are up to and whether they are good or bad guys sorry, all I know is that this album is ridiculous! We’ve been given an unexpected yet brilliant conclusion where things turn slightly classic rock, everything gets a little happier and someone hammers out a ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ final winning impression of King Diamond. There’s certainly a hint of cheese in the air, next level genius!
Instead of a metal album written by four musicians, I believe that Forestelevision has been swirling somewhere in the cosmos in some intangible form since the dawn of time which needed to be unlocked and channelled by Lesbian so it could be experienced by us mere mortals. It’s a force beyond our understanding but I do know an album with such vision and ambition is exactly where metal should be at in 2013 and is a truly remarkable achievement. My album of the year so far for 2013.
