Forest of Misanthropy is the first official CD release of Lycanthropy's Spell . Certainly it has already been published a CD bootleg titled 'The Chronic' in 2005, but being de facto an illegal one, so it doesn't count. The Forest of Misanthropy compilations contain in a chronological order songs of the entire releases, which exist of Lycanthropy's Spell.

The both first songs - Lunar Reflections wasn't be counted, though it merely work as an introduction - Immortal Hordes and In A Raging Battle are descended from the Chaos, Death and Horror demo. Those tracks are yet very rough and aggressive. The same is valid for Horns of War , which was taken from the Celtic Blood split-tape.
With Dreams of the Dead Emperor follows a title of Lycanthropic Hymns , the first full-length record. The selection is reached quite well, because the songs reflect the stylistic changes of this time rather perfect. The track is still driving and therein occasionally aggressive, but the tendency is already gleaming through towards longer, more melodic and epic songs.
This tendency is increasingly manifesting on the record Misanthropic Hymns, which is represented herein with the tracks Cemetary Lights and Nocturnal Forest in the Moonlight. I am dissatisfied with this choice, so as I see it, Misanthropic Hymns offers fundamentally better songs. In any case the main song Misanthropic Visions should have to be contained in this compilation, because it's the best track of Misanthropic Hymns.

Tale of the Witch and Requiem from the Glorification of the Night full-length album are in contrast to those two other songs a good selection, because these both titles represent perfectly the dark and suffocating atmosphere of the record. The following Under The cold Fullmoon is a covered Moonblood track and is taken from the very rare Tribute release, existing of solely 20 pieces and contain exclusively covered material.
The Final Song is the very last song, which was created before Sarmak's death. It was published on the Sarmak Tribute compilation and is a long, slow and typical song, where you can immediately remember Lycanthropy's Spell. It's very mournful and thereby rather melodic. This melodic performed guitar is nearly thoroughly being heard, whereby it is played more catching, than playful.
Very calm and deliberate is the sound of Midnight Symphony, which is taken from Glorification of the Midnight, although erroneously the Forest Of Misanthropy booklet declares L.R.O.T.N.S.I.M.A.A.D. as its source.

Up to the fluff with the missing Misanthropic Visions song, Forest Of Misanthropy is a good compilation and offers a profound overview of Lycanthropy's Spell creativeness. A rather subordinate, but for me not irrelevant aspect is, that you can preserve the tapes, whereby the whole getting interesting for those having those cassettes.


Aceust

(Translation: G.P.)

01. Lunar reflections
02. Immortal hordes
03. In a raging battle
04. Horns of war
05. Dreams of the dead emperor
06. Cemetary lights
07. Nocturnal forest in the moonlight
08. Tale of the witch
09. Requiem
10. Under the cold fullmoon (Moonblood Cover)
11. The final song
12. Midnight symphony


LYCANTHROPY'S SPELL
THOR'S HAMMER PRODUCTIONS