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Candlelight – Out Now.
These last few years I have come across Mancunian Black Metal quartet Winterfylleth on a live setting more times that I care to remember. Even though I do respect and appreciate their ‘stubborn’ commitment to musical formulae first made popular by Scandinavian bands in the mid-90s, I always felt that, for me to become a truly devoted fan, a few integral changes in the band’s song-writing process would first have to take place.
Though not quite the album to fulfil such a condition, “The Divination Of Antiquity” is definitely a step towards the right direction.
Listening to the opening section of the album one would be justified in believing that with Winterfylleth’s fourth full-length release what we’re experiencing is pretty much ‘business as usual’, as raspy vocals, fast/monotonous tempo drum beats and repetitive high velocity riffs are clearly dominating the proceedings.
It is not long, however, before the band begins to present different dimensions to its music with the assistance of acoustic guitar harmonies, choral chants and simple lead solos. It is the way that these elements interact with the band’s more traditional themes that provide “The Divination Of Antiquity” with much needed variety and thus enable it to come across as a more balanced and well-thought of musical proposition rather than simply another generic 90s-sounding Black Metal album.
Both the opening track “The Divination Of Antiquity” and its follow-up “Whisper Of The Elements” showcasing the band’s classic Black Metal pedigree through an array of fast riffs and aggressive drum beats and, though introducing a few simply-crafted guitar harmonies in the proceedings, “Warrior Herd” is far from being described as an original-sounding piece.
Things improve massively with the Bathory-influenced “A Careworm Herat” – a nine and a half minute celebration of all things epic that’s filled moody acoustic guitar passages and colourful choral chants.
While introducing itself as an up-tempo Black Metal piece, “Foundations Of Ash” soon presents a more melodic side to its character while the three and a half minute “The World Ahead” finds the band, once again, operating on Quorthon territory!
The last section of the album contains three of its lengthiest compositions on offer, namely “Over Borderlands”, “Forsaken In Stone” & “Pariah’s Path” – all featuring and working towards perfecting a healthy ‘symbiosis’ between their harsh and melodic musical elements.
In the seven years since they first managed to convince Profound Lore records that they were a band worthy of a record contract, Winterfylleth have forged and stayed loyal to a very specific musical path, one that have won them a decent number of fans but also one that have deprived them of many more.
It is highly unlikely that this ‘state of affairs’ will change significantly with the release of “The Divination Of Antiquity”, however, people like myself who have, for a long time, been sitting on the sidelines might just finally find a reason to start gravitating toward their orbit. Nothing wrong with some classic, honest-sounding Black Metal after all – right?
John Stefanis
Rating: ***1/2 (3.5/5.0)
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