FOREST OF SHADOWS is not new in the music industry. This one man band is alive for over ten years. But, to tell you the truth, this is the first time I come across him and his doom-atmospheric Metal.

The Sweden-based band's history passed through hundreds of waves. During those eleven years, they've released a demo, a mini CD and their debut album. After the demo Niklasjoined forces with Micce Andersson, but he left the band just before the mini CD Where Dreams Turned To Dust came out. Until that time, many musicians passed from the band's lineup, but probably Niklas decided to move along alone. So he recorded his debut album Departure in 2004 after having to find a new label since Rage Of Achilles Records went out of bussiness.

So here we are with his second effort Six Waves Of Woe. From the four older songs I have listened to in order to judge, as far as I can do, the new album, well, I can't find any huge changes in the way that he composes music. The production is for sure better. As for the music itself, I can say that it is somewhere between KATATONIA, SWALLOW THE SUN and CULT OF LUNA. The way that the compositions are building up is not bad, but on the other hand, I believe that they don't have that something that will make them distinguish from other bands' songs. Even though I do have my feet on earth and I know that it's almost impossible to write something unique and innovational in the dark doom Metal field, you have to give that something in your work.

Six Waves Of Woe is far from saying it's a bad album. You will listen to some nice ideas and Niklas did make a step forward, but I believe he has to do something to put more inspiration in his work. Oh, and do something with the clean vocals. If my ears are in good shape after the two live shows during the weekend, he has to work a lot on those.