Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 30/09/2016
Label: Candlelight Records |
Spinefarm Records
With only five
tracks, the band have placed all their energy into creating an album of depth
without any meandering. The real centrepiece of this album is “Green
Cathedral”, though. Indeed it is as good a piece of music as you will hear this
year. “The Dark Hereafter” marks
Winterfylleth's continuing trend of excellent albums, Superb and
atmospheric stuff- savour it.
“The Dark Hereafter” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1). The Dark Hereafter
2). Pariah's Path
3). Ensigns of Victory
4). Green Cathedral
5). Led Astray in the Forest Dark
2). Pariah's Path
3). Ensigns of Victory
4). Green Cathedral
5). Led Astray in the Forest Dark
The Review:
Winterfylleth are certainly my
favourite UK black metal outfit. They return here with an album that takes in
both focused blasts of darkness and epic sprawling soundscapes. With only five
tracks, the band has placed all their energy into creating an album of depth
without any meandering. The band sticks to the task at hand and make every
second count.
The
rather ferocious opening title track recalls more Scandinavian outfits, while
the familiar “Pariah's Path” is
given an extra something here. Naturally, this being a Winterfylleth release, the
record is best digested through headphones and whilst undertaking some kind of
journey (preferably in an area of natural beauty) but it works fantastically as
a mood piece played on my front room stereo and much like its predecessors it
takes you on a journey even if you don't
set foot outside.
“Ensigns of Victory” is a stirring and
triumphant sounding track, utilising time changes aplenty and a surprising
dynamic range (not easy in BM). The real centrepiece of this album is “Green Cathedral”, though. As good a
piece of music as you will hear this year and encapsulating all that is great
about the band and all that is great about nature- while highlighting how it
gets further away from many of us in our daily lives. The track is epic in
scope and performance and it crystallises the bands raison d'etre beautifully.
It shifts sounds and moods to great effect and is a perfect soundtrack to the
coming changing seasons.
“Led Astray in the Forest Dark” (a cover of Ulver's "Capitel I: I Troldskog Faren Vild") closes this impressive set with some interesting
and effective choral type vocals and an excellent mix allowing the bass to
shine through. Overall, this marks Winterfylleth's continuing trend of excellent
albums- now at number five, discounting the three CD box set of a year or so
past. Superb and atmospheric stuff- savour it.
“The
Dark Hereafter” is available here
FFO:
Wodensthrone, Drudkh, Fen, Wolves in the Throne
Room
