"Hey honey, can you pass the salt? *Thanks* ... What did you think of that last vocal take for 'Wet Death?' Too harsh?" I can only imagine the conversations that occur between Jim (guitar/vocals) and Rachel (drums) Valosik, the married duo behind Forest of Tygers' staggering, take notice debut EP Bruises. Like marriages, bands are built on chemistry, and it is clear after a few spins of Bruises that Jim and Rachel have it in spades. The couple create a crushing, vitriolic, blackened metal assault with enough melodic experimentation to keep things vibrant and intriguing throughout the four song EP.
The EP kicks off with the title-track 'Bruises'. You'll notice immediately Forest of Tygers' music is delivered with a jarring urgency. First Jim's guttural vocal delivery hits hard with elongated words that drop with an agonizing tension like a warrior's battle-cry. Rachel's propulsive drumming then combines with a fury of dynamic and edgy guitar riffs to create an immensely powerful sound that would hush Godzilla. There are heavy, ominous riffs one moment then captivating melodies the next. Nothing gets stale with the Tygers. The aural soundscape is constantly changing with a new hardcore hammering. The musicianship is solid and you'll check the liner notes again and again in disbelief pondering how the hell two people can create such an imposing racket.
Next 'As Flakes Of Ash' sets the atmosphere to pitch black with some stunningly ominous ambiance. A distant discordant tolling bell blends with a sample from 'Bad Lieutenant' "I'm Sorry... I did so many bad things..." with vehement impact. The track launches into an aggressive blast of drums and blackened guitar. Like 'Bruises' the guitar sounds in 'As Flakes of Ash' offer plenty of compelling riffage. Forest Of Tygers don't dwell within a single riff, the creative tones jump all over offering an enticing fist full of melodies, noise and potent aggression. Heavy metal indeed! Jim says "Happy, as flakes of ash", but it feels more the like the unhappy remains of something destroyed.
'Tigerstripe' starts with a curious sample that sounds like it was taken from an old sci-fi film. The sample robotically counts numbers that appear to be in no order, it's rather unsettling. Once the music kicks in the numbers fade away and the aural punishment resumes. A bold, brash, beefy riff looms over Rachel's snappy beat. The snare clearly taking beaten and getting bruised. There is a brief interlude mid-track that the duo explode out of with fresh melodies and a frenzied cadence. The song ends with satisfying energy as the words "Faith? Where are you?" echo, leaving the question to ponder. Forest Of Tygers clearly make an effort to infuse innovation and experimentation into their music. The energy from Jim's vocal bombast is certainly coercive and impassioned. That said, a few reprieves from that constant monstrous intensity with some subtly different vocal tones may enhance the more experimental passages of music.
The album ends with the incredible track 'Wet Death'. This is how to blend melody and intensity! The pedal is down to the floor, the guitar is set to eleven and the Tygers still find ways to create really alluring segues within the din. The words cry out "Slide into wet death. Life is wasted on the id." Life is wasted if you don't check out this debut EP!
What an impressive and cogent debut by Forest Of Tygers. Bruises is a powerful, gripping, melodic, heavy, harsh and inventive aural drubbing that will leave begging for more, despite the bruising. "Thank you sir! May I have another?". The EP is a ferocious slab of ruthless blackened metal that brilliantly fuses a storm of molten rage with itchy experimental melody. A very highly recommended listen and it is name your price at Bandcamp. I eagerly await the destruction of the universe when the Valosiks release a full length album.
