Review from Lunar Hypnosis Webzine

May 17, 2013
From: Lunar Hypnosis Webzine
Published:
May 4, 2013
Original Link

Worlds removed from the somewhat simple and more straightforward synth ambient approach of the material on the 'Equinox' split with Ancient Tundra, 'Primal' brings a new direction that's considerably more evocative, focused and organic in style for Old Forgotten Lands - the solo project of Elan O'Neal. With a grocery list of instruments being included, such as the bodhran, Tibetan singing bowl, flute, accordion, timpani, maracas and rainstick (to a name a few of them) these instruments are often paired with acoustic guitars, field recordings, light ambiance and occasional spoken vocals to create something that sounds not only unique, but also ancient and timeless in character. Immediate influences could point towards the acoustic side of Agalloch or even bands like Nest or Tenhi, though the songs of 'Primal' are more than simple artist flattery or direct imitation. Atmosphere is ever present and at a high during this release as Elan and his list of guests take the listener back to a time and place of long, long ago.

The opener 'Hour of the Wolves' sets the stage with a variety of percussive instruments that intermingle with acoustic guitar and voice, while 'Song of the Dens' is more ambient based, using a deep meditative synth line throughout its duration, whereas, 'Renewal Neverending...' uses a more elaborate guitar melody that although repetitive is quite soothing in its conveyance. Similarly, '...With Each Prevailing Wind' has a memorable ceaseless acoustic lick alongside a haunting backing synth melody and slowly spoken vocals that lasts for nine minutes, but is hardly boring during its duration. 'Lakewood' is the most diverse song however, sounding more akin to something cinematic or some countries ethnic music, it has a twisted trumpet riff, tons of percussive instruments and variety of voices and singing to make it one of the albums biggest standouts. 'Old Forgotten Lands' is the most neo folk sounding piece on the album and quite frankly my favorite as well, while 'Death of an Estranged Earth' is similar, although adds more instruments and stretches out to fourteen minutes too. The final two songs are equally good, 'Atop the Mystic Mountain' in particular hankers back to the older OFL's sound of melodic ambient. 

All in all, its a bit hard to explain this record in writing, because I can't perfectly portray the sounds herein in that form. It is however enormously recommended to anyone that feels that sort of deep nostalgic yearning inside their souls that brings their minds and hearts to a time and place of long ago, a place they might not even mind escaping to while leaving this modern world far behind. Beautiful ambiance, brilliant acoustic passages and a smorgasbord of other instruments, voices, influences, thoughts and atmospheres take the listener on a 'Primal' journey to Old Forgotten Lands...

Reviewed by: Joe Mlodik
 

Review from Melting Album Reviews

May 13, 2013
From: Melting Album Reviews
Published:
May 10, 2013
Original Link

Having existed for six years now, black metal/ambient project Old Forgotten Lands seem to have much less popularity than they deserve. Although much of their music solely relies on atmospheric, natural sounds crafted from wildlife and the most eerie-sounding of folk-related instruments, the project’s second album “Primal” offers quite an authentic approach to creating music that is as raw and natural as it could possibly get...

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Review from Pure Nothing Worship Magazine

November 5, 2012
From: Pure Nothing Worship Magazine
Published: September 15, 2012
Issue #1

Primal's abundance with the rich, vast nature inspired sounds never ceases. Throughout the album a vast array of instruments is used - wooden flutes, guitars, bodhran, violins, accordions, synths, tambourine, field recordings and much more, even things such as sticks and stones. 

The songs offered are melancholic, mid tempo, with acoustic guitars and ambiental sounds closely entwined throughout. The first half of the album...

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Review from Necro-web Magazine

November 5, 2012
From: Necro-web Magazine
Published: June 8, 2012
Original Link
*Google translation of German review

Old Forgotten Lands undoubtedly shine a bit mystical. But even if it initially appears here has a connection to the dark metal, the truth is different. give an indication of the ever-mentioned musical influences, which make themselves names like Wardruna, Of The Wand And The Moon or locate Wongraven . can This is known as certainly right, but not its class actually achieved. 

"Primal" is highly ritu...

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Review from Aristocrazia Webzine

November 5, 2012
From: Aristocrazia Webzine
Published:
May 14, 2012
Original Link
*Google translation of Italian review

Élan O'Neal and his Old Forgotten Lands project are not well known, in all probability only the meager crowd of listeners hungry for dark ambient sounds, neo-folk music or otherwise it is primal and essentially atmospheric entry may already know of the project, thanks to works such as the previous full-length "From Ethereal Forests To Mystic Mountains" and the split "Equinox", platter, which se...

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Review from Midwinter Fires Webzine

November 5, 2012
From: Midwinter Fires Webzine
Published: April 19, 2012
Original Link

Old Forgotten Land is an entity hard to define: neo folk? black ambient? Well, to be honest I guess it’s something more within its essence, mysterious, inscrutable, related to the Nature and its magnificence. It’s something so primitive, ancient, a creature which shapes odd melodies within field recordings, which creates peculiar, minimalist tunes using a lot of unconventional instruments (singing bowl, tambourine, stones,...

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Review from Alternativ-Musik Webzine

November 5, 2012
From: Alternativ-Musik Webzine
Published: April 6, 2012
Original Link
*Google translation of German review


Very strange, what an Old Forgotten Lands as set before. You move between folk and ambient music, just not what one would expect. Because the album is somewhere in a time when people have not roamed the earth and there was no organized societies. For this unspoiled nature, and perhaps a few archaic ways of life. No less is the archaic sound of Primal . With a guitar, field recordings and a f...

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Review from Wounds of the Earth

November 5, 2012
From: Wounds of the Earth
Published: April 5, 2012
Original Link



I find humorous the chasm between what dark ambient (CMI, etc) guys perceive as "dark ambient" and what black metal guys think is "dark ambient". This album came to be from black metal imprint Hypnotic Dirge under the label of "dark ambient". This isn't remotely like what you'd find on Malignant, Loki, CMI, etc, but I guess compared to black metal I see where they're coming from. The name Primal could not be more apt for this. This...

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OLD FORGOTTEN LANDS - PRIMAL

            Released: March 10, 2012
                            300 Copies
                  Dark Ambient/Neo-Folk