WINTERFYLLETH: The Imperious Horizon (BLACK METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Seventeen years into their career, Winterfylleth have long had nothing to prove. A handful of great records have established them as masters of epic, atmospheric black metal, sculpted from the cold, harsh soil of England and rooted in a history steeped in blood and iron.

After a long and unusual silence, the quintet, still guided by Chris Naughton (vocals, guitar) and Simon Lucas (drums), delivers a top-flight eighth album in the fine tradition of its predecessors. The setting is a familiar one, from the icy, majestic mountain on the cover to the abruptly emphatic soundscapes the musicians climb with emotional power.

Preceded by snowy, melancholy preliminaries, 'Like Brimming Fire' opens with a blend of brutality and misty ambience reminiscent of Eastern European black metal, driven by vocals bubbling with dark violence and a relentless tempo imprinted on a carpet of forest keyboards. Dishonour Enthroned', propelled by torrential blasts, and the title track, whose final section climbs to intoxicating heights, maintain this furious momentum.

This aggressive approach does not, however, exempt “The Imperious Horizon” from its pervasive melodic force and mineral beauty. Upon This Shore” is the purest illustration of this, as it ascends through a sinuous landscape shrouded in an almost poetic atmosphere. Halfway through, we hear 'In Silent Grace', which is not only the longest composition - 11 minutes - in this grandiose set, but also its undisputed summit. This is due as much to its more sedate pace, which should not be mistaken for a in intensity, as to the guest appearance of the imperial Alan Nemtheanga, legendary singer of Primordial, whose poignant voice, recognizable among a thousand, wraps it in a granitic despair.

We can only dream that this alliance between Winterfylleth's sharp black art and the Irish's dramatic robustness will not end there, for the result is so immense. It represents the most beautiful side of an album which then begins a descent into its most murderous crevices with 'To The Ege Of Tyranny', a brutal protrusion, and the final 'The Insurrection', separated by 'Eathen Sorrows', a woody instrumental pause of the finest effect.

“The Imperious Horizon” is undoubtedly a landmark in Winterfylleth's career, striking the perfect balance between icy aggression and majestic melody. Bonus tracks include a second version of 'In Silent Grace' and a reworking of Emperor's 'The Majesty Of The Nightsky'. While the former adds nothing to the original, the Norwegian cover fits in perfectly with the band's theme and overall mood. - Official website

WINTERFYLLETH

THE IMPERIOUS HORIZON

CANDLELIGHT RECORDS

BLACK METAL