FORLORN WORLD
Umbra
MASTODON: PRESS/JIMMY HUBBARD
SELF-RELEASED
Bloodshot Down frontman embarks on a
sci-fi
mini-epic
A solo project from Bloodshot Dawn frontman Josh McMorran, Forlorn World maintains much of the pummelling technicality of his day job with an epic narrative and a melodic death metal sheen to match. While the brutish chug of opener Moving Mountains ticks the necessary boxes and reaches a peak with an immediate chorus, Umbra develops into a brief but fiendishly inventive trip into far-off domains, not only befitting the awesome album artwork but also succeeding in working the neck muscles too. The album’s real ace in the hole is Josh’s outstanding lead work, with the scintillating breaks on Traveller and March Into Void proving dizzily impressive feats. Though lacking the commanding voice needed for the likes of the heroic The Shadowmancer to hit the heights they promise, the joy and enthusiasm that shines through on every note of Umbra is compellingly infectious.