Norway's importance to black metal is no secret. But the legend of the country's Forgotten Woods is lesser known. During the early and mid 1990s Forgotten Woods released three obscure, cult full length albums on the No Colours label. Among those who managed to hear them, the band gained a legendary reputation for bringing a different, avant-garde style to a black metal genre that was already stagnating. Presently in 2007 Forgotten Woods has returned with their first new album in more than 10 years. Maintaining their signature strangeness, at times the band is much more raw and aggressive, and at others more psychedelic and tinged with post-punk angularity. Yet at no point during Race Of Cain is there a time when the music can't simply be called black metal. A defining moment for avant black metal in 2007, Race Of Cain is true to Forgotten Woods roots and maintains a level of originality lacking in today's aging underground scene. Packaged in a 6 panel digipak.