Although it would later be credited to reigning Romanian black metal philosophers
Negur Bunget, the demo collection known as From Transilvanian Forest was originally released by a formative version of that group named Wiccan Rede. In fact, the only musician shared by both entities was vocalist/guitarist Hupogrammos Disciple, who would discard his Wiccan Rede bandmates, Aiwazz Vallach (keyboards, vocals) and Black Pharmakeya Pepóromenée (drums), shortly after committing these crude, severely underproduced, and really rather predictable black metal stencils to wax in 1995. However, black metal fiends knowledgeable enough to pierce the dense fog shrouding these tunes (especially standouts "Vallachorum Tyranorum," "Transyilvaniam Fullmoon Vamiprism," and "De Rece Singie") may recognize Hupogrammos' burgeoning flair for quasi-symphonic orchestration, in the complex guitar and synth interplay found within. For the better part of the global population, though,
Negur Bunget's -- that is Wiccan Rede's -- first foray out of Transylvania's haunted forests was anything but recommended listening; only die-hard fans really need apply. [In 2004, following
Negur Bunget's rise to worldwide critical acclaim, From Transilvanian Forest was remixed, remastered, and reissued as part of a three-disc box set also featuring 1997's Zirnindu-Sã LP, 1998's Sala Molksa EP, and 2000's Mãiastru Sfetnic LP.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia