AUTREST began as a personal exploration of solitude and nature, with “Follow the Cold Path” offering a raw, immersive debut. Now, “Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves” builds on that foundation, retaining the atmosphere and emotion of the first album, while embracing a warmer, more textured sound. It’s a step forward in expression, shaped by memory, loss, and quiet transformation. The album has eight tracks, and “Lobos” is first; a short instrumental mood-setter, and the mood is somber, but elegant. Segueing into “Ashes from the Burning Embers,” the full scope of sound is unveiled. The music is rich, thick, and even ominous, and there is a lot going on in the background…strings, keys, and other instruments. The vocals are harsh, raging screams, but live within the melodies of the music.

“Forgotten Wolves” is a bit more somber but still has that bombast of waves of sound coming at you at the same time. One wave is blue, the other black, and another tipped with white. For me, it signifies the various sounds you will hear on the album. “Where Stones Whisper” is another short instrumental connection between the first and second halves of the album, and its pretty tones are mysterious…wrapped in shadow. “Ruins of the Lost” combines the harsh, cold bite of Black Metal with the melodic gaunt of Folk Metal, and in keeping with the themes of nature, slides right into the hole that was made for its shape and size. “Forsaken” is a little closer to the Black Metal side of the album…with machine gun drumming and a wall of firm yet melodious sounds. Matheus teases you at times with just the right catchy lead breaks.

“Resonance” has the kind of gentle side that gets stuck in your head. Still thick and overflowing with richness, the melodies climb above the filthy to rise high into the night sky. When they reach the horizon, everything slows, and you are left with wonder. “Chasm of Time” is the closer, and the opening lead breaks weep. Heavier and firmer tones follow, but don’t take away from that first feeling. Rounding the half-way mark, it begins a slow march, into the sunset, and the possibilities that lie beyond. This album was very carefully crafted, and the composer left no stones unturned. It pushed seemingly competing elements in equal doses, like the aggressiveness of Black Metal, catchy, solemn melodies, and a feeling of melancholy. In the end, they blended together with power, and with emotions that came alive.