Today, I’m writing a second review dedicated to another album by the Austrian black metal project Winter’s Breath. A few weeks ago, I reviewed their latest album, Eine düstre Winternacht. This time, I’m looking at Stories Left Behind, released in 2023 via the label Running Wild Production, and available in both digital format and as a limited-edition CD. Furthermore, Winter’s Breath is a one-man band formed in 2020 in Vienna which, at the time of writing, already has two EPs and three albums to its name.
On Stories Left Behind, Winter's Breath delivers atmospheric black metal brimming with emotion, evident right from the first track, Stories Untold. This sense of heaviness pervades the entire album, particularly on Rote Rose, where it is especially palpable from 3:17 and then from 4:31. Furthermore, more melancholic passages also emerge, such as in the introduction to Irrglaube, providing a certain contrast to the overall sound.
The album, which runs to just over 50 minutes, is built on constant contrasts. Some tracks, such as White Void, feature faster tempos, whilst others take their time to develop quieter, more melodic passages. The structures remain nuanced, with frequent tempo changes, and the keyboard regularly comes to the fore to reinforce the melancholic atmosphere. Vocally, the album features mainly high-pitched screaming, which occasionally gives way to more sung phrasing, notably on Endless, from 5:04 onwards.
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| Album as presented by Running Wild Production |
It was certain specific passages in particular that caught my attention whilst listening. On The Watcher, the acceleration at 2:07 immediately stands out. Irrglaube features a section from 4:11 onwards that I find particularly well-constructed. White Void, meanwhile, offers an instrumental outburst at 3:49 that really stands out. On ‘Endless’, the alternation between accelerations, heaviness, melody and raw composition lends an interesting dynamic to the track. At World’s End remains, for me, the most striking track on the album, particularly thanks to the evolution of its structure over time.
Stories Left Behind is an interesting album with a distinct mood. It draws on atmospheric black metal that unfolds within a dynamic structure built around melancholic passages, alternating between fast-paced and heavy sections. I wouldn’t say it’s Winter’s Breath’s best album, but it’s a work that deserves a listen, both for the effort put into it and for the overall concept behind the album.
