Forsaken: Thirty-Five Years of Epic Doom Metal Majesty (1991–2026)
- Noel Mifsud
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Part 2 – From tragedy to triumph: forging the epic doom legacy
The years of change and the shadow of loss
Following the release of Evermore, Forsaken continued building their reputation as one of Europe’s most promising doom metal acts. The late 1990s were a challenging period for many traditional metal bands. Musical trends had shifted dramatically, with alternative rock, nu-metal and more extreme forms of metal dominating much of the international scene. Yet within underground circles, traditional heavy metal and doom maintained a devoted following and Forsaken remained committed to their chosen path.
The band’s music was never designed to follow trends. From the beginning, Forsaken’s identity had been built upon authenticity rather than commercial ambition. Their compositions demanded patience from the listener, rewarding repeated exploration through layers of atmosphere, intricate arrangements and lyrical depth.
However, the closing years of the 1990s and the beginning of the new millennium brought significant challenges. Like many long-running bands, Forsaken experienced changes in personnel, but the greatest tragedy came with the illness and passing of guitarist Daniel Magri in 2001.
Magri’s contribution to Forsaken cannot be overstated. As one of the musicians responsible for shaping the band’s earliest identity, his guitar work helped establish the melodic and dramatic qualities that became central to their sound. His passing represented a deeply painful moment for the band and for the Maltese metal community.
Rather than bringing Forsaken to an end, however, this tragedy strengthened the band’s determination to continue. The spirit of their fallen bandmate remained part of their musical journey, and the group moved forward while preserving the artistic principles they had established together.
The ability to survive such a difficult period became one of the defining characteristics of Forsaken. Many bands collapse when confronted with such personal loss, but Forsaken demonstrated the resilience that would become a recurring theme throughout their career.
Iconoclast: a new beginning
The release of Iconoclast in 2002 marked a significant rebirth for Forsaken. Coming after years of uncertainty and personal challenges, the album represented a powerful statement that the band was not only surviving but entering a new era.
Iconoclast displayed a more focused and confident version of Forsaken. The songwriting was heavier, the production more powerful and the band’s epic doom identity more clearly defined. While their earlier progressive influences remained present, the group had fully embraced the style that would make them internationally recognised.
On Iconoclast Forsaken expanded their line-up with the addition of Mario Ellul on keyboards, while Sean Vukovic moved into the role of guitarist. This particular formation had already been captured on the Demo 2002 recording, which was released on 10 February 2002, approximately ten months before the arrival of Iconoclast. The demo served as an early indication of the band’s evolving sound and the new musical dimensions that Ellul and Vukovic would bring to Forsaken’s next chapter.
The EP’s title itself reflected many of the themes that had always fascinated Forsaken: questioning established ideas, challenging authority and examining the conflicts between tradition and change. Their lyrics often explored historical figures, religious symbolism and philosophical dilemmas, creating narratives that extended beyond conventional metal songwriting.
Musically, Iconoclast demonstrated why Forsaken were increasingly being associated with the finest traditions of European epic doom metal. The influence of legendary acts such as Candlemass was evident, but Forsaken were never simply followers. They combined the crushing heaviness of doom with their own Mediterranean sense of drama and atmosphere.
The album helped reintroduce the band to an international audience and paved the way for what would become one of the most celebrated periods in their career.
Anima Mundi: the masterpiece arrives
If Iconoclast represented Forsaken’s rebirth, then Anima Mundi, released in 2004, confirmed their status as one of the leading names in epic doom metal.
The album is widely regarded as one of the band’s finest achievements and one of the most important doom metal releases to emerge from the European underground during the early 2000s.
The title, meaning “soul of the world”, perfectly reflected the philosophical nature of the music. Anima Mundi was not simply an album of heavy riffs and powerful vocals; it was an exploration of existence, spirituality and humanity’s place within the universe.
The compositions were expansive and ambitious, featuring long instrumental passages, dramatic vocal melodies and a strong sense of narrative progression. Forsaken had mastered the ability to create songs that felt monumental without losing emotional connection.
Leo Stivala’s commanding vocal delivery became one of the album’s defining characteristics. His voice possessed both power and vulnerability, perfectly suited to the epic nature of the material. Whether delivering soaring melodies or darker passages, his performance gave the songs a sense of urgency and grandeur.
Albert Bell’s bass playing and songwriting also became increasingly central to the band’s identity. His ability to combine memorable melodies with complex lyrical concepts helped establish Forsaken as more than a traditional doom band. Their music contained a strong intellectual dimension, with every album functioning almost like a literary work.
The international response to Anima Mundi was exceptional. Doom metal publications and fans worldwide praised the album for its songwriting, atmosphere and musicianship. It elevated Forsaken from respected underground musicians into a band considered among the elite of the epic doom genre.
Anima Mundi also marked the final contribution of keyboardist Mario Ellul to Forsaken. After the album’s release, Ellul decided to dedicate more time and focus to Weeping Silence, the band he had founded in 1995. Following his departure, Forsaken continued their journey as a four-piece formation, maintaining their distinctive epic doom metal sound while moving forward into the next chapter of their evolution.
For many fans, Anima Mundi remains the definitive Forsaken album—a perfect representation of everything the band stood for.
Dominaeon: the monument of doom metal
In 2009, Forsaken released Dominaeon, another landmark album that further cemented their reputation.
The album continued the artistic direction established on Anima Mundi while expanding the band’s sonic and conceptual horizons. The title, combining references to dominion and ancient symbolism, reflected the group’s continuing fascination with themes of power, belief, civilisation and humanity’s relationship with the divine.
Melodija.eu’s feature on Dominaeon described the album as “a monument of doom metal”, a fitting description for a release that demonstrated Forsaken’s ability to create music of enormous scale and emotional impact.
The album contained all the elements that had become associated with the band: massive riffs, dramatic melodies, powerful vocals and lyrics filled with historical and philosophical references. Yet it also showed maturity and refinement. Forsaken were no longer simply proving that a Maltese band could compete internationally—they had become a respected force within the genre itself.
By this stage, Forsaken had developed a unique identity. While many doom bands focused primarily on darkness and despair, Forsaken’s music contained a broader emotional spectrum. Their songs explored suffering but also resilience, destruction but also renewal, mortality but also the search for meaning.
This balance between heaviness and contemplation became one of their greatest strengths.
The international recognition grows
During the 2000s and early 2010s, Forsaken became regular participants in major European doom and traditional metal events. Their reputation as a live band grew alongside their studio achievements, with appearances at respected festivals and gatherings dedicated to classic and underground metal.
Among the events where they performed were Doom Shall Rise in Germany, Hammer of Doom, Headbangers Open Air and various European doom festivals that brought together the world’s leading traditional metal and doom acts.
These appearances were particularly significant because they placed Forsaken alongside many of the musicians who had inspired them. Sharing stages with respected international acts demonstrated that they had earned their place within the global metal community.
For Maltese musicians, Forsaken’s achievements were groundbreaking. They showed that artists from the island could achieve recognition without abandoning their roots or attempting to imitate scenes from larger countries.
Their success also helped inspire subsequent generations of Maltese metal musicians. Bands from Malta began receiving greater international attention, and the island gradually became recognised as a small but remarkably active centre for heavy music.
After the Fall: continuing the journey
Following the success of Dominaeon, Forsaken entered another important phase with the release of After the Fall in 2011.
The album continued exploring many of the themes that had always defined the band: apocalypse, redemption, human failure and the consequences of civilisation’s choices.
Rather than repeating past formulas, Forsaken continued developing their sound. The band’s trademark epic doom remained at the centre, but their songwriting demonstrated increasing maturity and confidence.
The album also reinforced their reputation as musicians who valued quality over quantity. Forsaken have never been a band that releases material simply to remain visible. Each album has been carefully crafted, with significant attention given to composition, atmosphere and lyrical meaning.
This approach explains why their catalogue remains highly regarded despite being relatively selective compared with many other bands.
Tales of Doom and Woe
Released in 2017, Tales of Doom and Woe was a unique collaborative release with Finnish doom metal outfit Fall of the Idols. The project brought together two respected bands from different corners of Europe, with each contributing two tracks to the release. Fall of the Idols featured Vesa Karppinen on bass, Jyrki Hakomäki on vocals, Hannu Weckman (R.I.P. 2011) on drums, alongside guitarists Tommi Turunen, Rami Moilanen and Jouni Sihvonen.
Forsaken’s contribution consisted of a heartfelt tribute to one of their greatest influences, Candlemass, through their interpretation of the classic Solitude, alongside the original composition Visions In Thy Shadow. The release served as both a celebration of the doom metal tradition that had inspired Forsaken throughout their career and a testament to their continuing relevance within the international doom community.
By this stage, Forsaken had become more than a band. They had become an institution within Maltese heavy metal and a respected name internationally among doom enthusiasts.
Part 3 – A legacy carved in stone: the enduring power of Forsaken - 31st August 2026
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