From their Facebook page, BELORE is an epic Black Metal solo project influenced by heroic fantasy and medieval worlds. This album, which I believe it their debut, is a journey into forgotten lands, each title tells a story: a world where landscapes, magic and medieval history are side by side. The album contains eight tracks.

"The Valley of the Giants" is the opening track. Soft instruments lead to a full, symphonic sound with a crushing rhythm and raging Black Metal vocals. The instruments keep up throughout, with that hypnotizing rhythm, before a clean guitar interlude with bass taking the lead rears its head briefly. "The Whispering Mountains" has a rich and full sound that is slightly slower in pace, really letting the melodies develop, especially those light bell strikes in the background. The instrumental passage ushers in lush melodies that fill the halls with light. "The Bewitching Horns" has an even slower, bossier pace, still rich with full instrumentation. This song has a darker tone to it...more harrowing than the previous two tracks.

"The Howling Fields" opens with an alluring passage of flute/recorder and the sounds of birds singing on perhaps a warm spring morning. The melody from the flute carries throughout the track, along with some chanting and other techniques. "The Initiation Ritual" is another positive sounding song with raging vocals but that melody line really shines. The extended instrumental passage just brings peace to my mind. It also has a slightly sad quality to it as well. "The King's Funeral" features bright, clean tones open what sounds like a processional; a funeral for a King indeed. The string are used beautifully, with angelic vocal chants above the deep Black Metal vocals.

"The Return of Fallen Heroes" features that slow, depressing tone that you would come to expect from the title. Too few heroes have returned, and you rejoice in the ones that do, and mourn for ones who paid the ultimate price. The rhythmic pacing is what it's all about here. "The Serenity of Steel" is short closing instrumental, tying together many of the various elements we have heard on the album. Two guitars take the harmony to completion, with soft vocal chants and the sense that the journey has come to a close. Overall, this was a very nice album that did indeed journey you to far away places and a sense of the supernatural. Each song told a different story and as an album it really draws you into their world. Well done, lads!