Stargazer Scholar (follow the scholar here!)
A band doesn’t need to invent a new genre to have an identity. Originality may earn you a paragraph or two in a history book, but at the end of the day, it’s the songwriting that sells records and boosts streaming stats. It’s that special, subtle something that makes you stand out from the crowd and be distinct. Case in point: Winterfylleth, who over the years have managed to carve out a niche within the overcrowded subspace of Melodic and Atmospheric Black Metal. Without being too groundbreaking or experimental, the Mancunians excel at conveying complex emotions with memorable tunes, and their mixture of bludgeoning pagan valor and moving melodicism has become a trademark. But did the band succeed in maintaining its standards with The Imperious Horizon?
After a purely neofolk detour that took everyone by surprise six years ago, Winterfylleth returned to heaviness with 2020’s The Reckoning Dawn, and its current offering continues down the same well-trodden, but welcome, path. After a brief, pensive intro, “Like Brimming Fire” hits with the might of a true English downpour. The raging tempest of blast beats and cascading tremolo riffs collides with shrieks that, for all their ferocity, succeed in sounding like actual singing. But after a while, the flurry relents, and a stunningly polyphonic ending makes good use of clever symphonic touches and a beautiful guitar solo, revealing development and dynamics so often underused in extreme metal.
The strong opener is a herald of things to come, which is a double-edged sword when looking at the bigger picture. The following three compositions offer the same cathartic intensity. As if vying for the title of the ultimate representative of true Winterfylleth style, they begin with a blast beat and slow down somewhere along the way. Despite this structural uniformity, every song has a unique mood that makes it stand out while remaining consistent with the overall ambiance of the record. Yes, it’s hard to deny that a little more diversity in kicking things off would be welcome. And yet, against all odds and logic, the songwriting remains strong and varied despite the band’s fixation on blast beats, and The Imperious Horizon‘s respectable one-hour runtime sees the musicians effortlessly navigate the full emotional spectrum between poignancy and aggression.
An even grander and much-needed change comes with the plodding, monumental “In Silent Grace”, the obvious centerpiece of the record. As if the solemn, doomy pace weren’t enough to make the song special, a guest vocal performance by Primordial’s very own Alan Averill steals the show with heart-rending conviction. Also, the guitar work is a highlight throughout. Soaring and majestic like the snowy mountain range gracing the album’s cover, the guitars alternate between shimmering tremolos and yearning leads, providing tonal shifts that will make you hold your breath and pay closer attention. This crystalline mini-orchestra breathes life and motion into every composition.
Winterfylleth may not be the most original band in the world, but its sincerity and musical intuition allow it to stay compelling and relevant. Consistently enjoyable and occasionally irresistible, The Imperious Horizon sees the band on the verge of realizing its full potential. Trimming the blasting parts a little would have elevated this work even further in my estimation, but nitpicking aside, it’s safe to say the band has managed to add another misty gem to its already peerless crown as kings of modern Black Metal.
Label: Candlelight Records
Release date: 13 September 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Winterfylleth
Country: UK
Score: 4 majestic misty mountains out of 5
Metal Eclipse Reviews 