Duncan Evans is the real name of Henry Hyde Bronsdon, one of the musicians making up psychedelic atmospheric black metal outfit A Forest of Stars. Under his real name, he is about to release a full-length Lodestone, a solo project of dark folk music. Bird of Prey is the lead single from the album, and comes along with the B-side She and I Must Part. Listening to Bird of Prey/She and I Must Part would probably make for the most non-metal part of your summer, so why should you care?

I guess Neurosis singer/guitarists Scott Kelly, Steve Von Till and doom/stoner metal mainstay Scott "Wino" Weinrich cared enough about charismatic singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt to create a tribute to him, and that is what Bird of Prey somewhat reminds me of. This single is purity impersonated. Just Duncan’s voice, even if some accent and enunciation rub me off not in the best of ways, and guitar tracks, sometimes acoustic, sometimes a pair of them overlapping. Both songs are incorporating complex guitar weaves and Scotts/Irish melodies, which were hinted through Towns Van Zandt Southern blues/folk as well.

This music is not something I sample very often, but as a digression from the daily and mundane, this is nice and soft listening.