Creating something even a little different from the norm can result in an absolute world of difference even if you don’t realize it. Black metal can be especially subject to that as the style has long been filled with experimentation from the mild to the extreme for any fresh approach to take immense advantage of. Bringing a lot of outside elements can really make for something incredibly fascinating, and it’s with their debut album that Foretoken has taken all of that to great lengths in just six tracks.

Simply pinning “Ruin” as a black metal release would be to do a great disservice to the many different facets that make this album move from one song to the next with one rarely having the same exact elements as the other before or after it. The whole of the record is an absolute menagerie of both flavor and talent as we’re treated to a display of what feels like everything from straight black metal to a more pagan feel to symphonic inclusions to much more, and that’s only the tip of what Foretoken brings to the table here not the least of which boasting the masterful Hannes Grossmann contributing his skills. The entirety of “Ruin” has so much to call its own that it’s staggering to call this album a debut with how much Foretoken juggles around in six tracks to have it all result in such an exquisite listen that many other bands struggle to put together on even their third or fourth album. I feel that’s a real testament to what Foretoken has created here, and it’s far from anything that I was expecting both in terms of quality and content as it refuses to let up while constantly refusing to keep quiet unless it’s in the most opportune of moments to pack one hell of a punch. There’s so much to sink your teeth into throughout everything that’s brought forth for “Ruin” such that even after four spins I still find new things to enjoy and discover, and I expect to only find more glory with more spins!

Foretoken really pulled out all the stops to show us what they’re made of with their debut album, and to say it was pulled off would be to greatly undermine the excellence that’s on full display here. This is a band with loads of promise and potential to be had, and if “Ruin” is just the beginning of what they’re capable of then I can’t wait to dig into more!

LISTEN to “Ruin” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Foretoken on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Foretoken on Twitter: @ForetokenM