by Joe Mis
– Senior Columnist —
Scars is a 3 track digital EP Copenhagen’s Forever Still. Building on the success of their debut EP Breaking Free, this Gothic/alternative rock quartet is planning to add two more digital EPs and then combine them all into a full length album for release in the spring of 2015. For now the Scars EP can be downloaded directly from the band’s website (www.foreverstill.dk) where fans can name their own price for it.
Forever Still has a history going back to 2009 when bassist/sound engineer Mikkel Haastrup joined forces with vocalist Maja Schønning to form the creative core of the band. A lineup change now puts the guitars into the capable hands of Dennis Post, and new drummer Jens Berglid rounds out the lineup. The quartet is in fine tune musically, working together well throughout. Vocalist Maja Schønning is in fine voice again: strong, crisp, and clear. She continues to demonstrate great vocal versatility, dealing out everything from a thin, almost reedy squeal to a near-death-metal bellow. Haastrup’s bass and keys blend nicely with the rhythms of drummer Berglid. Post seems to have more of an opportunity to show his chops as a soloist, laying down some neat and tidy breaks, while having ample time to demonstrate his rhythm guitar riffs. As on Breaking Free the band keeps their arrangements simple and clean, keeping the music accessible to most rock fans.
The maintains a wonderful sense of melody across the three tracks of Scars. Schønning’s vocal lines are fluid and crisp, and the mix of the album definitely favors her voice. As on their first EP, the guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards are all contributors, but no instrument dominates the music resulting in a consistently balanced sound. According to a press release, this “…EP is Part 1 of the band’s debut album which is a concept album about a suppressed individual struggling through depression, anxiety, and worthlessness and getting stronger in the process.” The three tracks on Scars are well written and structured, and the variety of styles show true maturity.
Each song on the EP has a distinct sound, a nice setup that showcases the band’s versatility. While the overall tone is definitley Gothic, there is enough variation to prove that Forever Still is not a one-trick pony. “Scars” is a gritty, Flyleaf-esque track with a heavy tone, and Maja’s vocals run from deep growl to spoken word to soaring power. “Once Upon A Nightmare” has more of an Evanescence feel to it thanks to some nicely coordinated bass and drum work beneath a powerful vocal line. The high point of this track is actually the outro, where Maja sings on top of Post’s outro guitar break – something relatively unique and effective. “Miss Madness” borders on power ballad territory. Maja proves that she can truly sing, and Haastrup’s keyboards are spot on. Combine these tracks with the three from Breaking Free and the listener gets a real sense of the scope and ambitions of the band.
Forever Still is a band to watch (and to hear…) – all the pieces are present, and they seem to be on the road to the big time. With a little luck they will carry this momentum into the second and third EPs of this series to assemble a fully fleshed out full-length CD. For now, Scars is a promising start that will appeal to fans of the Gothic or female-fronted genres, and one that will have fans eagerly looking forward to EP number 2…
Genre: Gothic Rock, Metal
Band:
Maja Schønning (vocals)
Mikkel Haastrup (bass, keys)
Jens Berglid (drums)
Dennis Post (guitars)
Track Listing:
1. Scars
2. Once Upon A Nightmare
3. Miss Madness
Label: Independent
Website: http://foreverstill.dk/
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
