Explore the sacred domains

A Forest of Dreams is a Portuguese atmospheric black metal project founded in 2020, shaped around the creative axis of multi‑instrumentalist Mário Rodrigues and the unmistakable vocal presence of Hugo Leal (Vulturius), a figure deeply rooted in the Portuguese underground through projects such as Flamma Aeterna, Morte Incandescente, Corpus Christii, Decayed, and others.Emerging with an approach that merges raw black metal expression with enveloping ambient textures, the project quickly established a steady and prolific release cycle, issuing multiple full‑lengths within its first years of existence.

The early works A Forest of Dreams and Sacrum Terram (both 2020) introduced a sound defined by cold atmospheres, minimalist repetition, and a sense of solitary introspection. These albums laid the foundation for the project’s identity: a bleak, immersive journey where ambient passages and black metal structures coexist without ornamentation. Rodrigues’ role as sole instrumentalist gives the music a cohesive, hermetic quality, while Vulturius’ vocals add a harsh, ritualistic edge that ties the project to the lineage of Portuguese raw and atmospheric black metal.

With Quando a Morte Chama por Nós (2021), the project deepened its thematic and emotional weight, channeling a more anguished and oppressive atmosphere. This phase marked a shift toward darker, more suffocating textures, reflecting a growing preoccupation with mortality, decay, and existential collapse. The follow‑up 3459 (2022) continued this trajectory, expanding the project’s sonic palette while maintaining its stark, solitary essence.

In 2024, the EP Momento Negro signaled a rawer and more confrontational evolution. Described as a work steeped in anguish, revolt, and disillusionment, it strips away many of the ambient layers that previously softened the edges of the sound, embracing a more primitive and direct black metal approach. The EP is portrayed as a harsher continuation of the themes explored in earlier releases, reflecting a deepening sense of disenchantment with humanity and its trajectory.

Across its discography, A Forest of Dreams maintains a consistent aesthetic: solitary creation, atmospheric immersion, and a bleak emotional core. Though rooted in ambient‑infused black metal, the project evolves with each release, shifting between introspective ambience and raw aggression while preserving a distinctly Portuguese underground spirit.

A Forest of Dreams	Full-length	2020
Sacrum Terram	Full-length	2020
Quando a Morte Chama por Nós	Full-length	2021
3459	Full-length	2022
Momento Negro	EP	2024