Folk metal duo FORGOTTEN SHRINE embarks on a journey of introspection, destruction and resilience in the new concept album, Nox Aeterna. Released today, the album arrives independently alongside a visualizer stream and the focus track, “Nox Aeterna.”
Sofia Frasz comments on the album’s concept:
“Nox Aeterna is a concept album about two keepers of an ancient shrine to art, creativity, and freedom. Artists, musicians, bards, and storytellers of all kinds throughout the ages have left offerings to the shrine in exchange for inspiration and the courage to pursue their goals. As the shrine has changed hands between generations of keepers over the centuries, the world around the shrine has also changed. The world has grown dull, dark, and full of peril and despair. Wars rage, cities are captured and oppressed, and people no longer believe in dreams, fantasies, or anything greater and more powerful than themselves. They simply endure the drudgery of everyday life with nothing to hope and strive for.
Much of the album is a metaphor for the importance of keeping one’s childlike sense of wonder alive in a world that tries to force everyone to grow up, shut up, and conform to standards that make for a dull, lifeless world. In that sense, it’s a meta-commentary on, and a love letter to, the importance of art and creativity in a functioning society. We all need escapism and something greater than ourselves to strive for. The little things that we look forward to every day, especially when life gets tough, keep us going and help us remember who we are.”
On “Nox Aeterna” Josh Alexander shares,
“‘Nox Aeterna’ is truly the main event on this album, both in terms of the conveying of the lore and in creating a dense and unique instrumental atmosphere. For me, writing this song all started with the acoustic guitar riff you can hear in the background of the verses, and I built up the entire instrumental around that while integrating leitmotifs and references to other tracks on the album. The song begins with a familiar melody, the one from ‘Where Shadows Lie’ only something is unsettlingly off about it. This sets the stage for the rest of the song which utilizes a very macabre and chromatic mode that matches perfectly with the theme of being ushered into the darkness and being tempted to make a metaphorical deal with the devil.”
Frasz adds, “[t]he song is about the desire to just lie down and give up on your creative pursuits (along with everything else that makes you who you are as an individual), because the act of creation is more difficult than remaining complacent and going through the motions of everyday life. But if you get too complacent, you’ll lose yourself and have nothing left to strive for.”
Nox Aeterna was produced, mixed and mastered by Joshua Dalviken. The album artwork was created by Josh Alexander and Joshua Dalviken.
About FORGOTTEN SHRINE:
Created by Josh Alexander (Pennsylvania, USA) and Sofia Frasz (Maryland, USA), FORGOTTEN SHRINE fuses the sounds and textures of folk instruments with the power and darkness of metal. Through their genre-crossing arrangements FORGOTTEN SHRINE delve into fantasy realms creating both upbeat songs perfect for embarking on an adventure and heavier offerings for battling shadowy forces.
Alexander and Frasz combine their compositional styles, instruments and vocal textures to produce dynamic and emotive music. The upcoming full-length sees the duo each take the reins across the track list while ensuring FORGOTTEN SHRINE’s core identity remains cohesive.
FORGOTTEN SHRINE is:
Josh Alexander – Guitar, Bass, Hurdy Gurdy, Irish Bouzouki, Additional Instruments, Backing Vocals, Composition.
Sofia Frasz – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics, Composition.
Connect With FORGOTTEN SHRINE:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555238025771&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgottenshrineband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForgottenShrineBand
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0q7rFp0yxvWoxGWqIt21nI?si=p5jz0YOOROOHFy5jxHAW6A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/forgotten-shrine/1734698132
Nox Aeterna Track List:
1. Where Shadows Lie (Reforged)
2. Terror! At The Ballroom
3. Loch Lomond
4. Gods Of War
5. Wander So Far
6. Nox Aeterna
7. Dearly Departed
8. Halo
9. The Parting Glass (Reforged)
10. End Of The Dream
11. Where Shadows Lie (Reforged Instrumental)