Review by Maciek on February 18, 2013.

Another strong position from 2012 in Death Metal category. This one is somewhere between Scandinavian Death Metal and Technical Death Metal.

First of all it is quite melodic which doesn't strike the listener from the very start, which is mostly thanks to often changes to the tempo. It also reminds a lot of Pestilence and Morgoth, especially when it comes to vocals, but also many riffs remind of once very strong Benelux Death Metal scene. Some reminiscences from Grave also can be heard. My overall feeling of the album is that it's definitely fast and both guitarists and drummer are using quite complex riffing and rhythms. You can travel through many ways of playing Death Metal listening to this album - there are few elements typical to Deicide, some moments remind me of Entombed as well ('Lament Of A Sordid God'), but in the same track you might find even slightly punk-ish rhythms and riffs. The most part remains within the American Death Metal realm. What needs to be pointed out that the vocalist produces very wide range of sounds from his throat (or stomach), which makes this album very interesting. I also like the way how distorted the guitars are here. It makes the album sound nearly as garage release. But knowing that the band exists from 1991 and from skills presented by musicians which are really not far from Bloodbath to me, I can tell that it's been done deliberately. And it definitely sounds good.

The best tracks on the album to me are 'Lament Of A Sordid God', 'Never To Dawn' (probably the most melodic track on the album with great solo) and 'The Ancient Acumen' which is a great choice to close the album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 9
Overall: 8

Rating:8.6 out of 10

Review by Emma on June 8, 2009.

If you like it heavy and epic as an opening shot in a Peter Jackson film, then you want the latest from Malta’s own Forsaken.
"After The Fall" opens to a city under siege. Women screaming, blade singing against blade, and a good ‘Fuck You!’ meld into cacophony. It sends us back to the good ol’ days when bloodshed was the answer, not turning the other cheek. Appropriately, a heavy yet melodic riff sends us into ‘Aiden Falls’. This is the most memorable song on the album, actually making me push the back track button on my CD player. The following track ‘Sins Of The Tempter’ is just as enjoyable and solid. "After The Fall" is a good album, well mixed, with variation and guitar solos strewn like bodies on the battlefields their music brings to mind. It is only towards the middle of the album that my interest was lost at times, but the last few tracks redeemed this deviation into OK-land and kept my full attention. Doom lovers will want to add "After The Fall" to their collection; even those not so familiar with the Doom sound will find this an accessible album. ‘The Sage’ features a great instrumental bit, deviating from the heaviness before plunging back to dark depths and ending with ‘Metratron And The Mibor Mythos’. Fans of Forsaken, you will not be disappointed.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 7.5
Musicianship:8
Atmosphere:7.5
Production:8.6
Overall :8.4

Rating: 8 out of 10