Dark Woods: Convert | Those Dark Forests
(2025 – Kongsblod Records)
Forests are part of nature, a symbol of life and growth. We could spend a long time talking about forests, but they are also part of the universe of extreme music—specifically, Black Metal. Thus, the terms “forests,” “darkness,” and “Black Metal” are not unrelated. There is a deep connection between them, and the genre’s Nordic origins partly explain this fascination with the forest.
This project, aptly named Dark Woods, embraces the idea and concept, but from a different angle. Its Christian-inspired lyrics give the music a distinct feel; the music itself is a kind of atmospheric or progressive Black Metal, one might say. The fusion of the most extreme elements of Metal with elements of ambient music and even Nordic folk is the key to Dark Woods.
In this case, Dark Woods is a one-man project by the mysterious “Lord Of The Night,” a figure who is everything. Yes, the Lord of the Night is the one who composes, plays all the instruments, sings, produces, records, and mixes everything that comes out of Dark Woods, a project that has been around for years; in fact, “Convert” would be the sixth studio album released. There’s quite a long history behind it.
Looking specifically at this new album, one could say it follows the established formula. Black Metal with ambient, epic, and other musical elements—what is commonly referred to as Atmospheric Black Metal. Its musical connection to nature is evident and finds its raison d’être therein. With seven tracks, it doesn’t offer too many surprises compared to what we already know of Dark Woods.
Recorded between 2017 and 2025—that is, over the course of eight long years—Dark Woods offers a work that brings us closer to the sounds of nature and life, but also to that dark atmosphere that is equally part of the natural world and, logically, of life itself.
The first track is “Nocturnal Moment,” a piece with an interesting musical richness stemming from the sound of the keyboards and the basic percussion. The guitars are far in the background of the overall instrumentation, a far cry from classic Black Metal, and in fact, they are not the predominant sound—quite the opposite. That’s what it’s all about, even though “You Do Not Know What Will Happen Tomorrow” opens with a distorted guitar intro that’s very distinctive and far from ordinary. In the background, drums and a slow ambient track, featuring the guttural vocal displays of the Lord of the Night, alongside exclamations reminiscent of monastic chants—which really suit the track well. The ambient sounds truly transport you through time and space.
In contrast, “I Need To Run” follows an approach closer to what we know of Black Metal: fierce riffs and a solid foundation, accompanied by instrumentation that enhances and enlivens the track, with truly interesting passages throughout its duration. Meanwhile, “My Dreams In Village” is merely an instrumental track, melancholic and introspective.
With sounds of thunder and lightning, “The Mist Coast Land” begins—a strange piece that focuses its content on the guttural growls emerging from the throat of the Lord of the Night, featuring mid-tempo passages in low, dark tones adorned with fitting instrumentation.
“My Mind In Infinite” follows the same dark and melancholic tone of this work. A fully ambient introduction, quite long and with the necessary suspense, takes us on a sort of journey through the mysterious and sounds that seem to emulate raindrops. Entirely instrumental, it is a sort of preview of what is to come, the finale with “Your Tears Will Be Wiped Away On The Eternal Horizon,” and here we do have a more faithful approach to the classic Black Metal sound we all know, but with the caveat that the voice of the Lord of the Night sounds tremendously strange, and with an even stranger ending, yet grounded in an epic and deeply spiritual foundation, bringing closure to an excellent work by Dark Woods.
Perhaps the most obvious flaw of “Convert” lies in the sound, particularly regarding the mix. We’re well aware that Dark Woods is a completely independent project, but it’s also worth noting that perhaps, with a slightly more polished effort, the result could be far more interesting than it already is.
The approach relies more on ambient music than on typical metal sounds, yet the guitars still sound distant, too basic, and at times almost nonexistent, though their presence is felt somewhere in the mix. Perhaps a guest artist on this project or a more professional production could elevate what Dark Woods presents to much more promising horizons.
What is true is that the songs feature complex compositions that take us down the paths Lord Of The Night sets out from the very beginning. In that sense, the compositional unity and the overall concept come together to form a solid framework that results in something truly interesting and original enough to warrant a listen.
As for the visual aspect, the cover isn’t of the highest quality—it’s simply a dark illustration of an old helmet against a supposed forest backdrop; very much in keeping with the project’s concept. The inner sleeve is simple, featuring the song lyrics and technical details, not much else.
As a completely independent production, simplicity defines the essence of this release. Dark Woods’ concept and approach are intriguing, but not for every listener. It’s certainly not a work for the mainstream, but rather suited for those who can appreciate the beauty within a dark, melancholic sound like the one Dark Woods offers.
The forest can be dense, dark, and damp. It’s not for just anyone. Dark Woods invites us on a nighttime stroll where nature reigns supreme, and you certainly won’t be disappointed.
Here’s the contact for Lord Of The Night, where you can follow their updates, as well as the website for Extreme Records in Brazil, where you can purchase this album, and also a sort of summary in a single video of what this album is all about…
https://www.extremerecords.com.br
https://www.facebook.com/lord7of7the7night
