Band: Fransis Forth
Album: Left to Save
Genre: Blackened Melodic Death Metal
Country: Bulgaria
Label: Independent
Released: September 15, 2025
Introduction:
Fransis Forth is a Melodic Death/Black Metal band from Sofia, Bulgaria. Founded in 2012 by guitarist and then vocalist Ord Ost. Producing one demo “track—“Left to Save”—before going dormant until 2024. The band was revived with a new lineup featuring Cindy Ostheart (vocals), Pavel Rekarski (keyboards), Nikolay Kalachev (drums), Meto Pavlov (bass), Veselin Shterev (guitars), and Ord Ost (lead guitar).
Track Listing:
1.Demons Will Be God’s
2.By The Wind
3.Ritualistic Sympathy
4.Prophet Of The Sun
5.Left To Save
6.Radioactive Blood
7.Persephone
8.Life Went Black
The Album:
While doing these reviews, there are very few occasions where I am met with a band or an album that far exceeded my expectations. “Left To Save” is one of those moments. From beginning to end, this album had me floored. As a debut album from an obscure band, saying it’s unbelievably good feels like an understatement.
Melodic Death/Black Metal is quite possibly one of my favorite combinations of all time, and Fransis Forth executes it with such perfection and passion. It’s a love letter to the genre as a whole and a masterpiece in its own right. The production is perfect, capturing the crunchy, down-tuned guitar sound that melodic death metal is synonymous with. All while boasting some incredible songwriting and musicianship. It is, undoubtedly, one of the best debut albums I’ve heard in a long time, and easily one of the best albums I’ve heard this year.
It’s melodic, dark, technical, and captivating from start to finish. There isn’t a dull moment to be found here. The guitar riffs are catchy and heavy in all the right ways, and Ost’s solos are
melodic and tasteful without being intrusive or overbearing. Cindy’s vocals are on par with some of the best in the genre. Aggressive and commanding a presence all of their own while still maintaining the perfect amount of clarity.
Fransis Forth is a band that truly understands and appreciates the genre. The passion they have for their art and the music itself really shines here. Carrying the torch that was lit so many moons ago by bands like Dawn and Gates of Ishtar into the modern era of Melodic Death/Black Metal.
This is one of those albums that you press play and by the time the last track is ending, you can’t believe it’s already over. It’s flawless. That being said, the album’s closer, “Life Went Black” is my personal favorite.
Conclusion:
Fransis Forth’s “Left To Save” is a modern masterpiece within the Melodic Death/Black genre and a serious contender for album of the year for me personally. I’ve had the album on repeat since the moment I started listening to it and can’t get enough. This is a band that will be on my radar for future releases, and I can’t wait to hear what comes next from them.
BMZ rating: 9 out of 10
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