Fen "Dear Mouse"

Country: Canada
Genre(s): Progressive Alternative Rock/Metal
Format: digital
Release date: September 12, 2024

Tracklist

1. Ritual Lite

2. Recall

3. Season to Live

4. The Password is I Believe

5. Dying on a Hill (of Cubicle, Window, Steel, and Concrete)

6. The Seam of the Heart

7. Our Latest Quarry

8. E.D.B.D.

9. Dear Mouse

10. Into the Blaze

Credits

Randall Stoll: drums

Jeff Caron: bass (1-9)

Sam Levin: guitar, piano, programming, bass (10)

Doug Harrison (Slug Comparison): vocals, lyrics

Sheldon Zaharko of Zed Productions: tracked drums and bass, and mixed

Album mastered by Andy Vandette at Evolve Mastering

All songs written by Fen

Oil paintings by Jason Froese

Paintings documented by Kevin Gregoire

Description/Reviews:

Fen’s sixth album, Dear Mouse, breaks a twelve-year silence. It looms at a crossroads of genres and brings together elements taken from throughout the band’s discography. “Seam of the Heart” is a multi-movement composition whose lyrics resonate with their eerie concept album, Heron Leg. “Ritual Lite” competes for poppiest melody with both Congenital Fixation and Of Losing Interest. Throughout the album, the guitar work shapeshifts from jagged riffage to ethereal textures, offering a summary of decades of refinement.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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Proggnosis

Fen "The Dead Light"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Atmospheric Progressive Black Metal
Label: Prophecy Productions - PRO 277
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: December 6, 2019
Tracklist: 
1. Witness
2. The Dead Light Part 1
3. The Dead Light Part 2
4. Nebula
5. Labyrinthine Echoes
6. Breath of Void
7. Exsanguination
8. Rendered in Onyx

Line-up: 
The Watcher - vocals, guitar
Havenless - drums
Frank "Grungyn" Allain - bass, vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (from release date)

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Progarchives

Fen "Winter"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Atmospheric Progressive Black Metal, Post Metal
Label: Code666/Aural Music
Format: digital, vinyl
Release date: March 10, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. I (Pathway)   
2. II (Penance)   
3. III (Fear)   
4. IV (Interment)   
5. V (Death)   
6. VI (sight)

Line-up: 
The Watcher - vocals, guitar
Derwydd - drums
Frank "Grungyn" Allain - bass, vocals

Description/Reviews: 

These songs are richly textured and layered with all manner of nuance and subtlety. Post-rock and progressive stylings merge effortlessly into blackened aggression and dark atmospheres. These transitions are seamless, when they occur at all; frequently they are merged together wholesale, so there’s no transition as such, just one holistic approach to blackened music.

Read the full review at wonderboxmetal.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Progarchives

Fen "Carrion Skies"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Post Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Code666
Format: CD, vinyl
Release date: November 22, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Our Names Written in Embers Part 1 (Beacons of War)
2. Our Names Written in Embers Part 2 (Beacons of Sorrow)
3. The Dying Stars
4. Sentinels
5. Menhir- Supplicant
6. Gathering of the Stones
7. Coffin Soil (Exlusive bonus track on vinyl and Wood Box editions)
8. Trilithon (Exclusive bonus track on Wood Box edition)
9. Twilight Descends (Rare bonus track on Wood Box edition)

Line-up: 
The Watcher - vocals, guitar
Derwydd - drums
Frank "Grungyn" Allain - bass, vocals

Description/Reviews: 

To my ears, I’ve noticed that some subtle progression in their musicianship from the Epoch album, which was built further with the release of Dustwalker in 2013 – an album that added further dynamics to their often hypnotic black metal brew. Firstly, they aim with a double pronged attack – kicking off with ‘Our Names Written in Embers Part One'; beginning with acoustic chords then aiming for a sudden crisp and charging attack. This sounds somewhat deeper and more powerful than previously heard songs with rousing melodic chord changes, clean vocals and a mix of quieter passages that we’d normally expect from Fen. Fading guitar squeals lead dramatically into ‘Our Names Written in Embers Part Two’, filled with interesting melodious chord changes and a distinct driving bass pattern, that adds a level of power that I’ve not heard as prominent compared to previous albums; sounding as emotive and dramatic as ever.

Read the full review by Mark Steele at echoesanddust.com

Media/Samples 
Menhir-Supplicant

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ProgArchives

Fen "Dustwalker"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Post Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Code666
Release date: January 21, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Consequence
02. Hands Of Dust
03. Spectre
04. Reflections
05. Wolf Sun
06. The Black Sound
07. Walking The Crowpath
08. Epilogue [special edition bonus]

Line-up: 
The Watcher - vocals, guitar
Derwydd - drums
Frank "Grungyn" Allain - bass, vocals

Description/Reviews: 

Stylistically speaking it isnt very different from the atmospheric black metal with heavy post-rock influences they have played on their first two albums. Soothing melodies, vocals ranging from screams to clean wailings and interesting bass-lines, again are all present, but the overall delivery seems much more urgent and engaging now. This is due to the increase of aggression in their playing and the heavier production. Now, due to the increased aggression, the dynamics and variety are also elevated as the contrasts between these parts and the calmer and soothing parts is enhanced. The album therefore keeps your attention more easily and is even more engaging because of this. Overall, Dustwalker is an excellent post-black metal album by one of the frontrunners of this style. (lordsofmetal.nl)

Media/Samples 
Consequence

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