Some bands rise and fall into nothingness without a release to prove their existences for future generations. Even today, when to record something it's not as difficult as it was in the past, such thing happens usually. The reasons are endless to say, so the best thing to have in mind that's a pity for the fans, for some bands are really promising. But some of them arise back from the depths of the underground to make such thing, and it's when one can think that destiny is cruel. It's not hard to say that ANCESTRAL BLOOD, from USA, can be said as one of these cases, as shown on "Forgotten Myths and Legends - Chapter 1".Their main musical axis is a form of Black Metal/Symphonic Black Metal with resemblances of what was expressed in the middle of the 90s, when the genre was extremely gloomy and bleak, and here presented with some Epic/Pagan elements (due the ambiences that bears some very good keyboards parts, and clean guitars moments, as the ones heard on the short interlude called "Crystallized Within the Caverns of Time").

It's not a sin to say that influences from BATHORY (on "Blood Fire Death" and "Hammerheart" ages) can be felt in some moments, but having in mind that the band expresses its ideas in a personal way that's full of life (pay attention to the Gothic vocals used on "Through the Enchanted Forest of Illusions" to check this aspect). And yes, it's very good. The album's sonority is what one can expect of a band that was founded on the 90s: something crude, using a raw approach to keep things organic and gloomy, but in a way that isn't hard to understand what's being expressed by the band. It's a good result, and fits for a band with a musical work that resembles the old days of the Second Wave of Black Metal.

Musically, no Black Metal fan will have complaints about the songs of "Forgotten Myths and Legends - Chapter 1". Especially due fine pieces as "Forgotten Myths and Legends" (a harsh and oppressive song with faster tempos, but even with this simple technical approach, there are rhythmic contrasts that make things really interesting, and such 'blizzard'-like riffing based on tremolo picking technique is always great to be heard), "Sky Fortress of Wizardry" (a fine combination between guitar parts and keyboards arrangements gives the right Folk support), "Through the Enchanted Forest of Illusions" (a long song with contrasts between harsh Black Metal fast parts with introspective and bleak melodies, with very good work on bass guitar and drums), "The Cronos Stone" (another song filled with contrasts, but with excellent and charming details and arrangements), and "Lost on a Boundless Journey (Voyage)" (pay attention that the sonority becomes even more harsh than on the previous songs). This album is here not only as remembrance of the past, but to state that the band's music didn't lose its appeal, and prepare the ways for their conquest.

"Forgotten Myths and Legends - Chapter 1" is a very good release that depicts the honesty of the band behind it, and ANCESTRAL BLOOD is a very good name that finally shows its value for the world.