Fen
Fen live at the Bull and Gate
Background information
Origin	The Fens
Genres	Post-black metal blackgaze
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Code 666 / Norvdis
Members	The Watcher (guitar, vocals) Grungyn (bass, backing vocals) Derwydd (drums)
Website	www.myspace.com/fenband

Fen is a British post-black metal band formed in 2006 from the Fens of East Anglia signed to the label Code666.

History

In 2006 they recorded the Ancient Sorrow EP (released on both CD and vinyl) and January 2009 saw the release of the first full-length album The Malediction Fields under the Code 666 record label. In 2011 they released the second studio album Epoch on the same label, gaining positive reviews in Metal Hammer (8/10) and Terrorizer magazine (7.5/10). It was released with 40 pages of photography from the landscapes that inspired the music. The Epoch track "A Waning Solace" was featured in Terrorizer magazine's "10 Essential Anthems (Issue 208). For this album the lineup featured original members The Watcher, Grungyn and Theutus with Æðelwalh previously of Wodensthrone on synths. Prior to Æðelwalh (in 2007) Draugluin had played synths with the band. Fen performed at festivals such as the Infernal Damnation Festival, the Damnation Festival in 2010 and the Aurora Infernalis Festival in 2012. They also toured with Negura Bunget, Wodensthrone and Agalloch. Fen's third album. Dustwalker, was released on 21 January 2013 via Code 666 records. The lineup for this record would be a three piece featuring the Watcher, Grungyn and new drummer Derwydd. To support the new album Fen announced a 28 date European tour alongside Agalloch.^[1] Fen released their seventh studio album, titled Monuments to Absence on 7 July 2023 via Prophecy Productions.

Band members

Current members

• Frank "The Watcher" Allain – vocals, guitars (2006–present), synthesizers (2012–present)
• Adam "Grungyn" Allain – bass, vocals (2006–present)
• J.G - drums (2020–present)

Former members

• Daniel "Theutus" Spender – drums (2006–2012)
• Paul "Derwydd" Westwood – drums (2012–2016)
• Pete "Havenless" Aplin - drums (2016–2020)
• Draugluin – synths (2006–2011)
• Æðelwalh – synths (2011–2012)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• The Malediction Fields (2009)
• Epoch (2011)
• Dustwalker (2012)
• Carrion Skies (2014)
• Winter (2017)
• The Dead Light (2019)
• Monuments to Absence (2023)

EPs

• Ancient Sorrow (2007)
• Onset of Winter (2008)

Split

• Towards the Shores of the End (Fen / De Arma, 2011)
• Call of Ashes II / Stone and Sea (Fen / Sleepwalker, 2016)

Others

• Better Undead Than Alive 2 (Various artists, 2009)
• Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer (Various artist, 2010)
• Toteninsel (Various artists, 2012)
• Önd - A Tribute (Various artists, 2012)

References

• Metal Hammer Magazine - February 2011, page 119 - 2/5 of page review of Epoch (8/10)
• Terrorizer Magazine - Feb 2011 - Page 66, review of Epoch (7.5/10)
• Chronicles of Chaos - review of Malediction Fields
• Blistering - review of Malediction Fields
• Terrorizer Magazine - issue 208 April 2011 - "Post Black Metal" feature, with interview and inclusion of "A Waning Solace" in their "10 Essential Metal Anthems".
• Metal Hammer Magazine, March 2011, page 110 "FEN: expansive brits redefine the black metal landscape"
• Terrorizer Magazine, March 2011 - review of Towards the Shoes of the End (7.5)