Monuments to Absence

by Fen

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Alice M. I have like three Fen albums in my wishlist – I always enjoyed them, but Monuments to Absence was the release that finally broke through my shell and led me towards an unavoidable purchase. A sprawling, delectable and diverse… well… “monument” of atmo bm.

winterispretty I love this album so much Favorite track: Truth is Futility.

Ebbe Scovdahl I run out of superlatives with this band. Just stunning! Favorite track: Wracked.

Matthew Johnson Atmospheric but driving. Occasional choral-influenced vocals are haunting and triumphal, and the giant drum sound adds a similarly epic quality. Along with the expected atmospheric passages, though, this one has plenty of “classic” black metal elements with galloping riffs and high-speed tremolo picking that will appeal equally to post-black-metal fans like me and second-wave purists.

H.L. #1 2023: Since 2007's "The Gales scream of Loss" FEN stands for atmospheric, melancholic, sometimes majestic, always very intensive and well arranged black metal. Each album contained one or the other thrilling track, but "Monuments to Absence" tops them all in emotional depth as there are no weak tracks, 6 of 8 are even outstanding. No album before had that perfect balance between aggression and melancholy, harsh singing and clean support vocals, dynamic and calm passages. My album of the year! Favorite track: Wracked.

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Gatefold double LP (black vinyl), padded inner sleeves, and protection sleeve

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Gatefold double LP (red/black marble vinyl), padded inner sleeves, and protection sleeve (400 copies available)

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1.	Scouring Ignorance 06:30	info	buy track
2.	Monuments to Absence 09:24	info	buy track
3.	Thrall 07:23	info	buy track
4.	To Silence and Abyss we Reach 07:39	info	buy track
5.	Truth is Futility 09:35	info	buy track
6.	Eschaton's Gift 07:52	info	buy track
7.	Wracked 09:08	info	buy track
8.	All is Lost 09:42	info	buy track

about

The colour of every FEN album points towards its lyrical and musical content. For the first time in their career, the East Anglian post-black metal trio has used the colour red on the cover artwork of their seventh full-length "Monuments to Absence". FEN describe the album as an expression of anger, hopelessness and despair – anger at the desperate futility of a human species hell-bent on self-destruction. This is reflected in the decidedly harsh and black sound of "Monuments to Absence", which is undoubtedly FEN's most extreme recording to date, even though there are still moments of atmospheric glory, spatial clean sections, heaving doom, and full-blown riffs, which augment the furious expression of rage. FEN took their name from the Fens of East Anglia when the trio formed in 2006. These desolate and bleak landscapes have left a deep mark in the post-black metal sound, which the band pioneered in the UK when the English scene revitalised in the wake of forerunners FOREFATHER with bands such as FEN, WINTERFYLLETH, and WODENSTHRONE coming to the fore. When FEN released their debut full-length "The Malediction Fields" (2009), the band made good on the huge promise of their previous EP "Ancient Sorrow" (2007) by delivering a first album that already combined the black metal tradition elegantly with a dedicated atmospheric twist and gentle experimentation beyond the perceived narrow confines of their genre. With each following full-length, from "Epoch" (2011), via "Dustwalker" (2012), "Carrion Skies" (2014), "Winter" (2017) to "The Dead Light" (2019), FEN have expanded both their musical range and following, while also perfecting their recognisable and unmistakable sound. "Monuments to Absence" marks FEN's welcome return to a dark and fierce sound.

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credits

released July 7, 2023

2023, 2023 Prophecy Productions

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Fen UK

: Formed in 2006 as a studio project by Grungyn, Theutus and The Watcher, and inspired by the windswept, desolate landscape of England’s Fen region, the band set out to fuse the cold rage of Black Metal with more reflective influences, creating a deeply intense and atmospheric sound which speaks of loss and melancholic yearning ... more

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Aug 17

Spillestedet Stengade

Copenhagen, Denmark

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