Winterfylleth is a band I consider to be one of the most influential in today’s black metal scene. Hailing from Manchester, England, the band was formed in 2008 and now counts nine albums and one EP in its discography. Their latest album, The Unyielding Season, was released last March via Napalm Records. The album ranks among my top three releases of March.
The Unyielding Season is an album that takes the listener on an hour-long journey, featuring 10 tracks. From the very first notes, we are immersed in black metal that is hypnotic in its atmosphere yet razor-sharp in its execution. There are also several melodic sections throughout the album, such as on Perdition’s Flame from 3:51 onwards. Add to all this the keyboard notes that accentuate the oppressive atmosphere.
Tracks such as A Hollow Existence make a theatrical and dramatic opening before gradually building in intensity with their heavier atmospheres. Also, the track In Ashen Wake begins with a cosmic feel and builds towards a hypnotic, aggressive sound. The English band also showcases its sound diversity through Unspoken Elegy and Where Dreams Once Grew, two acoustic tracks that soften the album’s heavy, palpable atmosphere.
So, the guitars race along at full speed, delivering a sharp-edged composition, but that’s not all! In several passages, the guitars shift to a slower tempo. I think that, at times, the musicians focus more on creating atmosphere than on speed. I’d also say that the guitars are at their very best on Towards Elysium, where the performance is executed with precision. The drums make their presence felt right from the first track, Heroes of a Hundred Fields, with relentless strikes and blast beats. This ferocity is even more apparent on tracks such as Echoes in the After and Perdition’s Flame.
The vocals are screaming, furious, blending with the atmosphere to create a palpable intensity, even though they remain consistent throughout the album and do not offer much variety in their approach. In my opinion, the vocals are more striking on tracks such as The Unyielding Season and In Ashen Wake. Otherwise, the album’s production is impeccable. I even think Winterfylleth must work with this kind of production, as they deliver black metal that is complex in structure and where every moment must be perfectly clear.
Among my favourite tracks and highlights on The Unyielding Season is Echoes in the After from 5:25 onwards, when the rhythm shifts to a heavier, slower arrangement, creating a melancholic atmosphere. There’s also the track A Hollow Existence, which I appreciate for its atmosphere and vocal performance. On the track The Unyielding Season, from 3:55 onwards, I enjoyed the atmospheric, acoustic moment that unfolds. The track In Ashen Wake is my favourite on the album and I really like it for its structure and the way it progresses (a track I immediately added to my annual black metal playlist on Spotify).
To close this review, I’d say that The Unyielding Season is one of the best releases of the year for me. The British band continues to deliver a unique brand of black metal, which is neither old school nor in line with current trends. And that’s what black metal is all about: it has to be different.
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