ALBUM REVIEW: Winterfylleth, "The Reckoning Dawn"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 08/05/2020

Label: Candlelight Records |

Spinefarm Records

“The Reckoning Dawn” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Misdeeds of Faith
2. A Hostile Fate (The Wayfarer Pt. 4)
3. Absolved In Fire
4. The Reckoning Dawn
5. A Greatness Undone
6. Betwixt... Two Crowns
7. Yielding The March Law
8. In Darkness Begotten

The Review:

Winterfylleth are certainly my favourite British black metal band and are becoming my favourite black metal band generally. It's a genre I only dip into, but there is something about Winterfylleth's hymns to nature that resonates with me strongly. I loved “The Hallowing of Heirdom” back in 2018 as a dark-folk detour, and I loved “The Dark Hereafter” prior to that, and “The Mercian Sphere” and... well, you get the picture.

Firstly, it's the sound and speed that grab you. Opener “Misdeeds of Faith” is immense in its velocity and size. I have no information about where this was recorded (Foel Studios), but I am wagering it was with Chris Fielding (it was) at the helm- I'd know that cavernous tom sound anywhere! The almost Gregorian backing vocals are a neat touch and the riffs and pacing confirm that the band are back to atmospheric black metal with a vengeance.

As the band has developed a recognisable sound over time, that sound is very much honed to perfection here. The songs are of course lengthy, so over the course of eight tracks each song can blur into the next. That's no criticism as Winterfylleth develop soundscapes as much as songs.

There is a continuation of “The Wayfarer” saga in “A Hostile Fate”, acoustic beauty and righteous musical fury on “Absolved In Fire”, a Sabbath -esque acoustic interlude “Betwixt Two Crowns” and classic Winterfylleth styled black metal on the title track. It's all played and delivered very convincingly and the organic sound combined with the fiery performances make this a superb entry into Winterfylleth's canon.

Where this will sit in their discography I am not yet sure- I like all of their albums and it is hard to rank them- “Threnody of Triumph” was the first one I heard, so perhaps I would pick that as my favourite? Or maybe “The Divination of Antiquity” as I listened to that one a great deal on release and it has been one I keep going back to. Pointless lists aside, I can confidently say that the band has never made a bad or even average album- it's all at least good. “The Reckoning Dawn” follows that excellent track record and it's to the band's credit that they have delivered such a convincing black metal record after they branched out so widely last time around.

The band are at their best on this record. It is an absolute masterpiece of black metal brilliance. With several tracks over eight minutes and beyond, it's hard to write about standout songs or tracks, but if push came to shove I may have to pick the aforementioned “Absolved In Fire” (that riff at six and a half minutes!) and “Yielding The March Law”- they both encapsulate what is great about Winterfylleth both in 2020 and in years prior. The band are on their way to becoming as timeless as the lands they revere and are only improving with age. My worship at their green cathedral has been reinvigorated and it's a joy- albeit an often bleak and melancholic one- to listen to.

“The Reckoning Dawn” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

TOP 16 MOST POPULAR ALBUMS OF 2018 SO FAR.... THE SOUR 16 (JAN - JULY 2018)

It has been hectic 2018 to say the least, so forgive me readers for I have sinned, it has been 6 months since our last SOUR 16, and our usual presentation of the 16 most popular albums of the month.  So given that I have failed to deliver the chart for the last six month, I’ve decided to present not only the most albums of the 7 months , but also the individual charts for the months you missed.  So by my reckoning that 112 albums for you to check out.  So apologises normal services is resumed, here is our TOP 16  MOST POPULAR ALBUMS OF 2018 SO FAR and the SOUR 16 (JAN - JULY 2018)

Here’s a quick recap, each month you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  To put it simply, the SOUR 16 are the records that have been trending the most at SLUDGELORD HQ.

The results are compiled based on the amount of page views the reviews have received and are then calibrated into the list below. (Total views are highlighted in brackets)

16). Black Label Society, “Grimmest Hits” (2134)

15). Tribulation, “Down Below” (2249)

14). Harakiri for the Sky, “Arson” (2504)

   
13). Phantom Winter, “Into Dark Science” (2532)

12). Fu Manchu, “Clone of the Universe” (2657)

 
11). Verheerer, “Maltrer” (3504)

   
10). Somali Yacht Club, “The Sea” (3651)

   
9). Witchcryer, “Cry Witch” (3884)

   
8). Earthless, “Black Heaven” (4071)

7). Monster Magnet, “Mindfucker” (4744)

6). Forktail, “Forktail” (5194)

5). Sleep, “The Sciences” (5931)

4). Hooded Menace, “Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed” (5924)

   
3). Winterfylleth, “The Hallowing of Heirdom” (9958)

   
2). Amorphis, “Queen of Time” (15574)

1). Wolftooth, “Wolftooth” (19820)

June/July 2018

16). Aseethe / Snow Burial, “Split” (413)

15). Witchsorrow, “Hexenhammer” (415) 

14). Drug Cult, Drug Cult” (451)

13). Witch Mountain, “Witch Mountain” (463)

12). Grave Lines, “Fed Into The Nihilist Engine” (503)

11). Uniform & The Body, “Mental Wounds Not Healing” (517)

10). Smock, “Interstellar Nobody” (520)

9). Wytchhazel, “II: Sojourn” (535)

8). Yob, “Our Raw Heart” (649)

7). Tomb Warden, “Reflection of the Mistake” (690)

6). Dopethrone, “Transcanadian Anger” (702)

5). Acid Priest, “Drop Out” (771)

4). Orange Goblin, “The Wolf Bites Back” (1097)

3). Cult of Occult, “Anti-Life” (1129)

2). Churchburn, “None Shall Live...The Hymns of Misery” (1305)

1). Bongripper, “Terminal” (1963)

May 2018

16). Tunguska Mammoth, “Breathless” (465)

15). Garganjua, “Through The Void” (477)

14). Mol, “Jord” (500)

13). Behemoth, “Messe Noire” (521)

12). Skinless, “Savagery” (580)

11). Cist, “The Frozen Casket” (581)

10). Iron Void, “Excalibur” (615)

9). Bong, “Thought & Existence” (709)

8). Wychhound, “Earth Orbiter” (730)

7). Chrch, “The Light Will Consume Us” (847)

6). Barst, “The Endeavour” (909)

5). LLNN, “Deads” (942)

4). Morag Tong, “Last Knell of Om” (997)

3). Nibiru, “Netrayoni” (2018) (1040)

2). Speedclaw, “Beast In The Mix” (1123)

1). Amorphis, “Queen of Time” (15574)

April 2010

16). Vomitor, “Pestilent Death” (428)

15). Boss Keloid, “Melted on the Inch” (438)

14). My Silent Wake, “There Was Death” 510)

13). Beneath Oblivion, “The Wayward & The Lost” (537)

12). Conjurer, “Mire” (565)

11). Will Haven, “Muerte”(610)

10).Foehammer, “Second Sight” (641)

9). Judas Priest, “Firepower” (721)

8). Hashteroid, “Hashteroid” (975)

7). Lychgate, “The Contagion in Nine Steps” (1000)

6). Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard & Slomatics, “Totems” (1084)

5). Eagle Twin, “The Thundering Heard” (1090)

4). Ulvesang, “The Hunt” (1189)

3). Aerosol Jesus, “Failure” (1444)

2). Sleep, “The Sciences” (5931)

1). Winterfylleth, “The Hallowing of Heirdom” (9958)

March 2018

16). Vile Creature, “Cast of Static & Smoke” (498)

15). Blheg, “Solarmegin” (527)

14). Dead Empires, “Designed To Disappear” (598)

13). Ilsa, “Corpse Fortress” (617)

12). Mournful Congregation, “The Incubus of Karma” (668)

11). Hemelbestormer, “A Ring of Blue Light” (683)

10). Solleme, “The Infinite Violence” (888)

9). Rivers of Nihil, “Where Owls Know My Name” (969)

8). Leechfeast, “Neon Crosses” (1053)

7). Ministry, “AmeriKKKant” (1210)

6).Blaze Bayley, “The Redemption of William Black (Infinite Entanglement Part III)” (1308)

5). Coilguns, “Millenials” (1437)

4). Ancst, “Ghosts of the Timeless Void” (1727)

3). Earthless, “Black Heaven” (4071)

2). Monster Magnet, “Mindfucker” (4744)

1). Forktail, “Forktail” (5194)

February 2018

16). Marriage + Cancer, “Marriage + Cancer” (763)

15). Cultus Profano, “Sacramentum Obscurus” (845)

14). Lowered, “Lowered“(890)

13). Oryx, “Stolen Absolution” (897)

12). Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, “Choosing Mental Illness Is A Virtue” (926)

11). Green Lung, “Free The Witch” (962)

10). Mammoth Grinder, “Cosmic Crypt” (1264)

9). Keiji Haino & Sumac, “American Dollar Bill - Keep Facing Sideways, You're Too Hideous To Look At Face On” (1336)

8). Necrophobic, “Mark of the Necrogram” (1394)

7). Windhand / Satan’s Satyrs, “Self Titled” Split (1431)

6). Against The Grain, “Cheated Death” (1507)

5). Visigoth, “Conquerer’s Oath” (1709)

4). Harakiri for the Sky, “Arson” (2504)

3). Phantom Winter, “Into Dark Science” (2532)            

2). Fu Manchu, Clone of the Universe” (2657)

1). Verheerer, “Maltrer” (3504)

January 2018

16). Greber, “Cemetary Preston” (731)

15). Corrosion of Conformity, “No Cross No Crown” (751)

14). Greyfell, “Horsepower” (786)

13). Agrimonia, “Awaken” (805)

12). Haunt, “Luminous Eyes” (EP) (826))

11). Possessor, “The Ripper” (872)

10). Come to Grief / Fistula & Fistula / (16) Splits (946)

9). Druid Lord, “Grotesque Offerings” (956)

8. Watain, “Trident Wolf Eclipse” (999)

7). King Buffalo, “Repeater” (1397)

6). Black Label Society, “Grimmest Hits” (1665)

5). Wolftooth, “Wolftooth” (1723)

4). Tribulation, “Down Below” (2047)

3). Somali Yacht Club, “The Sea” (2388)

2). Witchcryer, “Cry Witch” (3676)

1). Hooded Menace, “Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed” (5646)

ALBUM REVIEW: Winterfylleth, "The Hallowing of Heirdom"

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

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.

“The Hallowing of Heirdom” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Ulvesang, "The Hunt"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/03/2018

Label: Nordvis

The Hunt is bleak, dark and quite beautiful, highly evocative of nature and all that is fresh and clean. If this sounds like your kind of thing, it will be. This is a fantastic record.

“The Hunt” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Invocation

2). The Trial

3). The Dance

4). The End

5). The Hunt

6). The Break

7). The Run

8). The Gloom

9). The Truth

10). Močvara/Мочвара

The Review:

Ulvesang play folk- or neofolk/dark folk to be more accurate and hail not from Sweden or Norway but from Canada- still the Frozen North, so quite fitting. The two piece specialise in very dark but pretty acoustic textures. Being as this is an instrumental work (or without lyrics at least), what images it conjures up are a matter for the individual listener, but I would imagine that many listeners would find the sound and atmosphere here to be evocative of the forest, leaf and stream and all that is natural.

It is perhaps odd to some that this might fit right in alongside black metal, but not for me. It is bleak, it is dark, it is quite beautiful- similar to the very best of the black metal genre. Fans of Winterfylleth, eagerly awaiting their forthcoming acoustic record, and fans of the more ethereal work of Ulver and so on will find much to enjoy here.

The opening intro of “Invocation” sets the mood and the mood does not falter from there on, whether it be the bitter-sweet “The Trial” or the wistfully bleak “The End”- the textures are richly dark. However, the feel is not necessarily cold; there is melancholy and bleakness but the album is never grim; maudlin might be a better description. The ten tracks are all highly evocative of nature and all that is fresh and clean. If this sounds like your kind of thing, it will be. A fantastic record.

“The Hunt” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Winterfylleth - “The Dark Hereafter”

By: Richard Maw
 
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

 

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

 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

 

FFO: Wodensthrone, Drudkh, Fen, Wolves in the Throne Room

Live Review: Winterfylleth @ The Key Club, Leeds, UK. 19th September 2015

By: Richard Maw

The Review:

Having seen Winterfylleth once before (at the Black Heart in London whilst living down South), I had a fair idea of what to expect. My wife, having not been to any black metal show before had less of an idea, but as I said to her: “Well, black metal shows are just... different.” On getting to the venue (a basement club at the side of the horrific Merrion Centre in Leeds City Centre) I spotted two likely black metal candidates outside. I was just in time to hear this gem of knowledge from one bearded denizen of the black metal scene: “Black metal is NOT rock 'n' roll! Black metal IS BLACK METAL!” He was right, of course, but I cannot explain his statement any further than that.

Having arrived slightly late (huge apologies to the support acts Ninkharsag and Voices- we had been out of town all day and barely made it back to Leeds in time) we had managed to miss the first track or so, but on entry soon settled into a sweeping set of landscape and nature inspired black metal with slow moving melancholic melodies to go with the rolling blasts and more aggressive elements of the genre's sounds. Being as the tour is in support of the quartet's latest opus “The Divination of Antiquity” some of the album's diamond's were showcased- “Whisper of the Elements” being a stand out. The rest of the set matched old and new well with “The Swart Raven” making a welcome appearance. Things really peaked for me with the closing coupling of “Mam Tor (The Shivering Mountain)” and “Defending The Realm” bringing shivers down my spine. Hugely evocative of the landscapes and people they eulogise, this was black metal at its live best. The band played tight and benefitted from a good live mix. Their “everyman” image belies the grandeur of their music. For me, the best black metal band in Britain.

Queuing up for a vinyl copy of the aforementioned “The Divination...” at the merch stand, it was only when I reached the front of the queue that I realised I did not have enough cash on me. Defeated, but exhilarated, I left the venue empty handed, but with my spirits lifted. Live music at its most distinct and best. 

Live Review: Primordial / Winterfylleth / Malthusian @ Sound Control, Manchester. 6th February 2015

With Primordial and Winterfylleth both releasing new albums in 2014, it was a great thing to see two bands like this on the same bill, to share material from their latest releases. Having shared the bill in Manchester several years prior to this run of gigs, the veterans Primordial released another in a long line of stiring albums with 'Where Greater Men Have Fallen'; whereas Winterfylleth released one of the absolute best albums of 2014 with 'The Divination of Antiquity'. 

With Winterfylleth in the main support slot, Malthusian opened up the evenings proceedings. Shrouded in murky blue lights for most of their thirty minute set, the band mixed things up between blackened doom tempos and pure black metal blasts, to warm the growing crowd admirably. The guttural vocals and chugging, doomy pace were excellent throughout and set the scene for a great night.

http://malthusian.bandcamp.com/track/wraith-plague-spore

One of the great plus points of the nights gig, was the lengthier set time for Winterfylleth. Having had their slot on the recent tour with Behemoth limited to a mere 20 minutes, the band had time to really showcase their great talent. With new guitarist Dan Capp stepping in for the run with Primordial, the band showed why they are one of the leading lights in UK black metal.

Opening with the title track from the bands latest release, Winterfylleth’s no frills stage presence is one of the bands endearing features. There is no need for black metal’s well known clichés to mask anything. The music is stunning; and clad all in black, the band can really take their music to vast extremes. The ferociousness of the blast beats and razor like guitars of 'The Divination of Antiquity' make for a visceral experience, whereas the Iron Maiden-esque intro and progressive pace to the mighty 'A Careworn Heart', is a thing of beauty. The middle section of another new track; 'Whisper of the Elements' also provides respite amongst its furious and snarling surroundings.

With cherry picked tracks from the bands back catalogue making up the set, Winterfylleth closed out their set with a glorious rendition of 'Defending The Realm' from their debut full length long player; 'The Ghost of Heritage'. Leaving the stage to rapturous applause from their hometown crowd, Winterfylleth again proved why they’re one of the best bands England has to offer. The band is playing several festivals around Europe this year, as well as a date in London in March; try and catch them if you can. 

Where their Irish counterparts Malthusian, and brothers in arms Winterfylleth, are established but still carving their legacies, Primordial are the relative veterans of the scene. A scene that has embraced them, and seen their genesis over time allow them to become one of the most respected and revered black metal bands around.

‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’ is Primordial’s eight studio album, and it is the follow up to the excellent ‘Redemption at the Puritans Hand’. On my initial listens to the new album I struggled with it, and I’m not sure why. After hearing more than half of it played live with the passion and vigour that Primordial possess, the album has taken on a new verve in my conscious. The opening track of the night and album title track is fantastic. Alan Averill’s painted face, stage demeanour and deeply passionate vocals raise the track to new levels. This is true of every single song that Primordial commits their name too. Other new tracks that were aired were the epic ‘Babel’s Tower ‘(which was accompanied by a fantastic video upon release), and the folk tinged ‘Wield Lightening To Split The Sun’.

The newer material sat very well with older tracks; which are rightfully deemed classics. It was great to hear ‘Gods to the Godless’ played very early in the set as it ensured the crowd were firmly on board with the staunch Eire natives. ‘The Coffin Ship’s’ from 2005 release, ‘The Gathering Wilderness’, is always a musical journey that tugs at the heart strings due to the lyrical and epic nature of the song. Averill’s emotional delivery of the sad story of the native Irish attempting to escape the great famine of the mid 1800’s is amazing. Two of the high points from ‘Redemption at the Puritans Hand’; ‘No Grave Deep Enough’ and the anthemic ‘Bloodied Yet Unbowed’ gave strength to the bands latter day output. The band finished their heroic set with classic rock tinged ‘Empire Falls’ from 2007’s ‘To The Nameless Dead’. With hordes of Mancunian’s left wanting more; Primordial exited the stage to exultant applause after giving every ounce of what they had on stage.

Seeing Primordial is an experience that never gets boring. Their chest beating anthems and clinical musical delivery is magnificent. There only a few bands that can truly hold sway over a crowd and have them in the palm of their hands for as long as they like; Primordial are one such band. Assisted by the excellent Malthusian, and quite superb Winterfylleth, I feel privileged to have witnessed such a concert.

Words by: Dominic Walsh