By Phil Cooper
Pioneers of the British black metal sound, Winterfylleth have returned with their sixth studio album in ‘The Reckoning Dawn’. The band have stated the album represents the culmination of hard work over the previous two years. Looking to develop their now well-established sound, the eight new tracks still incorporate the thematic layering, emotive expanse and sweeping atmosphere that fans have come to expect, yet they’ve sought to push the boundaries and use a further injection of passion to press this album further. What with the current climate of uncertainty and uneasiness now permeating everyday life, could this be an ideal time for a dark, extreme record from a band now honed to a fine point to take hold?
Kicking off with ‘Misdeeds of Faith’, Winterfylleth waste no time in establishing the mood of this record. The listener is thrown into a black metal maelstrom from the first note. Towering guitars compliment punishing bass and drums with a vicious vocal attack sitting on top. Yet there is order in the chaos. The guitars work tightly to deliver the opening riffs and their melodic accompaniment provides the ideal counterpoint to the aggressive drive of blast beats. The vocals, while laced with raw energy, are also rich in texture and with the layering provide an operatic level to the track. It’s a solid start to the new album and encapsulates the black metal style and draws the listener in for more.
‘A Hostile Fate (The Wayfarer pt. 4)’ gallops into life led by the guitars with the intense rhythm section pushing the tempo with a punishing groove. For me it’s one of the standout moments of the album. The relentless intensity of the track is executed flawlessly and offers up a prime example of why Winterfylleth are a key player in todays black metal. When the track builds towards it’s melodic led close, the passion and drive of the band shines through in the form of the layered structure that builds an engrossing atmosphere that envelops the listener entirely.
From the opening two tracks, it’s clear that this is an album without compromise. The five-piece have incorporated a great deal of emotion and power into the music. The title track, as well as ‘A Greatness Undone’ and ‘Yielding the March Law’, weigh in heavy with the aggressive edge of black metal. The savage, guttural vocal deliveries are backed up by the dominant rhythm section and razor-sharp guitar attacks. The ferocity of the bands sound is matched by their crafting of intricate melodies and harmonies which provide a balance and intensity on a different level. This song writing style only goes to prove further that Winterfylleth have obtained a mastery of their chosen genre and this record will serve as a standout within their back catalogue. Elsewhere, the passion and emotive stylings of the band can be found matching the furious immediacy of the tracks mentioned above. Tracks such as the epic ‘Absolved in Fire’ with its acoustic led intro (harkening back to their previous album) that then swells into a rich textured, grand melodic black metal tour de force. It’s a piece that demands full attention and offers something different with each listen.
Thematically, the lyrics visit some dark and bleak territory as to be expected for the genre in question. Taking a view at control within politics and religion, tribalism and general corruption and manipulation of people. The music matches these elements, providing the soundscapes through the stylistic elements mentioned above. This is not a happy record. However, the musical elements deployed, and melodies used, do offer a rich and on occasion uplifting counterpoint that the listener can latch onto.
Without question, the concept of normal in everyday life has been flipped. There is a prevailing feeling of fear, uncertainty and even anger around the world. This record has unintentionally landed at a time when the atmosphere it creates mirrors these now commonplace emotions. With this in mind, it’s a fantastic record to get lost in. As a whole it sounds absolutely colossal in terms of musicianship, song writing and mix. It hits hard and fast when it needs to and offers an emotive depth that can be accessed on many different levels. ‘The Reckoning Dawn’ showcases Winterfylleth at a creative peak as well as providing a soundtrack to the times we currently face.
- ‘The Reckoning Dawn’ is released on 8 You can get your copy HERE.
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