The debut EP Forlorn Pages by Indian progressive rock/metal duo Fallen Letters (interview here) lure listeners into a dark, fascinating soundscape that reflects on themes of loss, grief, and existential dread. The EP crafts a melancholic alt-prog experience, defined by its dark, dreamlike aesthetic and brooding melodies.
From the opening track, Fallen Letters create a lush yet claustrophobic atmosphere where Vishal Naidu’s lyrics explore themes of thwarted desire. In “Remain a Memory,” gentle, fingerpicked guitars frame Naidu’s introspective words, before heavy rhythms and gritty guitar riffs underscore the frustration and helplessness embedded in the song’s narrative. This interplay builds tension and depth, enriching Naidu’s calm yet somber delivery.
“Relapse” further explores this emotional terrain, with shifting rhythms and layered chord sequences that evoke an almost impenetrable darkness. Occasional rays of light pierce the murky atmosphere, with solo vocals adding a hint of relief in an otherwise consuming soundscape. The piece brings moments of clarity and warmth amidst the storm, creating an intense but balanced auditory experience.
Each track on Forlorn Pages demonstrates the band’s attention to sonic transitions and textural contrasts, making full use of the EP’s cavernous soundstage. Echoes of emptiness and melancholy fill these expansive spaces, lending weight to the layered instrumentation and the raw, shifting emotions that drive each song. Themes of fragility, vulnerability, and remorse emerge, each note a brushstroke on a canvas of brooding despair.
In “Our Own Demise,” a haunting piano melody leads into an unexpectedly playful guitar riff, then pivots to Naidu’s forlorn, echoed vocals, set against off-kilter drum patterns. The song teases listeners with its surprising shifts in tone before delving back into deeper, darker musical territory. The closing track, “Beneath the Opaque Veil,” is as delicate as it is foreboding, with a sparse, plucked introduction that gives way to layered instrumentation and ghostly lyrical imagery.
When experienced as a whole, Forlorn Pages unfolds as a cohesive, progressive suite that feels both fresh and timeless. It may not reinvent the genre, but its thoughtful engagement with progressive music’s dynamics and Fallen Letters’ exceptional songwriting make it a standout release. Forlorn Pages signals a promising start for Fallen Letters—a band poised to stir the prog pot with their unique blend of emotional intensity and creative vision.
Listen to Forlorn Pages here.
Forlorn Pages signals a promising start for Fallen Letters—a band poised to stir the prog pot with their unique blend of emotional intensity and creative vision.
