By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 06/04/2018
Label: Candlelight Records |
Spinefarm
Records
“Winterfylleth have created a superb album here- one of atmosphere,
melancholy and mystery. Indeed, much like the landscapes that inspired it,
there is beauty to be found here in abundance if you are willing to give it a
try.”
“The
Hallowing of Heirdom” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1.
The Shepherd
2. Frithgeard
3. Æcerbot
4. Halgemonath
5. Elder Mother
6. Embers
7. A Gleeman’s Volt
8. Latch to a Grave
9. The Nymph
10. On-Cýdig
11. Resting Tarn
12. The Hallowing of Heirdom
2. Frithgeard
3. Æcerbot
4. Halgemonath
5. Elder Mother
6. Embers
7. A Gleeman’s Volt
8. Latch to a Grave
9. The Nymph
10. On-Cýdig
11. Resting Tarn
12. The Hallowing of Heirdom
The Review:
Winterfylleth have always done things a little
differently- no faux-satanic posing for them. No corpsepaint. No spikes and
bullet belts. However, they remain a black metal band. On this record, though,
they depart from the sonic tropes of black metal entirely and have instead
turned in a gothic folk album. If you picked up their career spanning
compendium a few years back and heard their version of “John Barleycorn Must Die”, then you have a pretty good reference
point for what is contained here.
Twelve
tracks of acoustic guitar, violin, percussion and vocals that range from choral
to droning- no screams or growls necessary. Winterfylleth
have always been a band enthralled with nature and landscape. “The Shepherd”, inspired by the Marlowe
poem, and the title track are clear odes to the land, while the title of “Resting Tarn” makes explicit overtures
to the land and the people of it, but elsewhere the influence of nature and folklore is just as strong.
The
melodic “Æcerbot”, the melancholic
and moody “Halgemonath”, the elegant
“Edler Mother”- they all make use of
violin and textured acoustic guitars and set a mood of contemplation and
wistfulness. At well over 50mins in length the album does not feel like a short
listen. Indeed, how much of the album you can listen to in one go may be
determined by your love (or lack thereof) of the sounds described here. It is
certainly not for everybody, but those who are fans of dark folk will find a
lot to like here. “Latch To A Grave” is
as dark as anything you will find on most orthodox black metal records, while “The Nymph” is a good deal prettier,
with its female voice-over and light atmospherics. The production and recording
is also excellent- headed up by the evergreen Chris Fielding of Skyhammer
Studio.
Winterfylleth have created a superb album here-
one of atmosphere, melancholy and mystery. Indeed, much like the landscapes
that inspired it, there is beauty to be found here in abundance if you are
willing to give it a try.
