Classic Review: Antestor – The Forsaken

Nekrist August 20, 2026

Review by Nekrist

Antestor – The Forsaken

Record Label: Endtime Productions

Year: 2005

Rating: 10/10

My history and relationship with Antestor is, to say the least, quite an unusual one. Before diving into this review, I’d like to give the reader some context on how this band became such an important part of my musical—and, if you will, even personal—development.

Back in the 2010s, I was a teenager completely fascinated by Metal and the countless styles the genre had to offer. It’s worth mentioning that everything I learned was entirely self-taught, as I’ve always been incredibly curious and meticulous about the things I’m passionate about. However, there was one small obstacle that morally prevented me from listening to certain subgenres out of fear and guilt: I was Catholic.

That’s right—I was born and raised with Catholic values and with that constant sense of guilt that came from enjoying things considered “sinful.” At the time, I had reached quite a difficult crossroads: I was beginning to fall in love with Black Metal, yet I felt terrible for doing so. As a result, I started looking for bands that didn’t feature anti-Christian themes. To my surprise, I discovered that not only were there Black Metal bands without anti-Christian lyrics, but there was actually an entire niche of bands with openly Christian lyrical content—something that, looking back, I find rather bizarre and even amusing to a certain extent.

This new concept was known by a name I always found rather ridiculous: Unblack Metal, the term some people use to describe Black Metal with a pro-Christian, anti-blasphemous message. I came across several excellent bands, but it wasn’t until I discovered Antestor that I found a group of truly exceptional caliber, capable of satisfying my desire to explore this subgenre without any spiritual remorse or fear of divine punishment.

So I sat down to listen to the album I’m reviewing today, The Forsaken, released in 2005 through Endtime Productions. Consisting of ten absolutely majestic tracks and featuring a breathtaking, Dissection-esque cover artwork by none other than the legendary Necrolord—whose unmistakable visual style is as icy as it is nostalgic—the album immediately made a powerful first impression.

Antestor

The Forsaken is a masterclass in elegant and majestic Black Metal, boasting outstanding technical proficiency and exceptional songwriting. Supported by a spectacular production, the album immerses the listener in melancholic, epic, heroic, and even angelic atmospheres that transport the mind to bleak, frozen landscapes. One particularly striking aspect is the subtle folk influence woven into some of the riffs and ornamental melodic arrangements. My very first thought while listening was: “This sounds incredibly Norwegian.”

Another detail that genuinely surprised me was discovering that the drum duties were handled by none other than Hellhammer himself. Yes—Hellhammer of Mayhem, showcasing his devastating drumming skills in a Christian Extreme Metal band. His performance is nothing short of phenomenal, and in my humble opinion, this stands as one of his finest recordings behind the kit. His technical precision, control, and sheer power are simply impeccable.

Meanwhile, the guitars intertwine to create genuine anthems that will leave no admirer of Black Metal unmoved, at times venturing into passages that could even be described as neoclassical, if you’ll allow me the term. Ronny Hansen’s vocals radiate pain and contempt, perhaps crying out for salvation through anguished screams of suffering and despair. It is a vocal performance overflowing with conviction, intensity, and passion.

Yet The Forsaken is not only filled with overwhelming moments of intensity; it is also an album of remarkable beauty and emotional depth. Raade and Mitt Hjerte are two gorgeous instrumental pieces featuring choirs and female vocal chants that truly touch the soul. As I mentioned earlier, they possess that unmistakably Norwegian folk flavor from which they simply cannot escape. After all, even while preaching the Christian faith, the blood of the North inevitably calls upon its deeply rooted, almost Wagnerian artistic spirit.

An absolute modern classic that has nothing to envy legendary works such as In the Nightside Eclipse, and I would even dare to place it alongside the seemingly untouchable Storm of the Light’s Bane by Dissection. Although the passion here is directed toward light and hope rather than darkness, the immense power and commanding presence of Black Metal remain every bit as imposing.