Winterfylleth - The Reckoning Dawn
Key Facts
Country: 🏴
Genre: Black Metal
Release Date: 8th May 2020
Record Label(s): Candlelight Records
Band Members
Chris Naughton – guitars, lead vocals
Simon Lucas – drums
Nick Wallwork – bass, backing vocals
Dan Capp – guitars, backing vocals
Mark Deeks - keyboards, backing vocals
Winterfylleth - Misdeeds Of Faith
Review
Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Favourite Track(s): Misdeeds Of Faith, The Reckoning Dawn, Absolved In Fire, Yielding The March Laws, In Darkness Begotten
England's black metal titans Winterfylleth unleash a ferocious new chapter in their story, that is inexplicably woven into the very fabric of the English landscape. After hearing the title single, The Reckoning Dawn, I knew that this album would see the band go back to what they do best, loud and ambitious atmospheric black metal! Not to discredit 2018's The Hallowing Of Heirdom, as that album alone shows the multitude of versatility that the band has with its songwriting and was very enjoyable. However, The Reckoning Dawn sees them reaffirm their reign as the flag bearers of English black metal. The album sees the band carry over some of the themes of The Hallowing Of Heirdom, as well as combining it with what they are known for best. An adventure through England that is sure to ignite the fire of your imagination.
Musically, the album starts with a fierce opening in the guise of Misdeeds Of Faith, which lets you know this album's intent. There is a real aggression about this album that I personally have never felt in a Winterfylleth album before, at least not since 2010's The Mercian Sphere (which has a similar cover to The Reckoning Dawn, I must say). This aggression runs through the album but it is very much positive aspect of the album as it gives the overarching atmospheres a real sense of grandeur and an epic quality. I can imagine myself exploring the Lake District or the New Forrest with this in my ears and it would conjure up spectacular imagery of times gone by and mighty battles fought in the Dark Ages (Brithnoth: The Battle Of Maldon (991AD) from 2008's The Ghost Of Heritage, will always be a favourite of mine). I find that the overarching atmospheres in this album help create these images in my mind, this is a testament to the time spect finely crafting the melodic riffs that this album contains. They seem to soar over the thundering rhythms and chords and gives you a sense of freedom, as if you were flying over the mountains on the cover art. The song that gives me that feeling the most is Absolved In Fire, with it's acoustic/orchestral intro and slow build up into the frenzy it later becomes, feels like a standalone journey in the whole context of the album but fits in just as well with the rest of the songs. Follow this with interlude Betwixt Two Crowns and you have interesting dynamics that slow the albums energy but keeps you fixed in the epic world that it has created. The album is packed from start to finish with a raw and uncompromising passion to deliver hard hitting black metal riffs with intricate soaring and weaving melodies that entice you in and hold you with their deep sense of wonder. Overall a very complete and awesome album that I have no doubt have me exploring obscure areas of history whilst I get lost in it's vast world.
The production is phenomenal to say the least. Retaining the rawness and energy found on previous releases whilst polishing the rougher edges in a similar way to 2018's The Hallowing Of Heirdom. The combination of acoustic and electric guitars in a genre such as this is a bit of a balancing act, because you don't want the distortion to overpower the natural earthy nature of the acoustic, but at the same time you don't want the acoustic detracting from the distortion that creates the main atmosphere. In this case it has been executed superbly, with the introduction of the string arrangements all can be head clearly and augment the distortion with a haunting beauty. The rhythm guitar tones are raw and uncompromising, filled with a lethal amount of treble that we love in black metal. The lead tones are bit softer and a bit more processed to give the melodies a really graceful dynamic. The drums sound really tight at the back with a healthy dose of bass and the click helps the bass punch through the mix, with a snare that snaps harder than an alligator. Overall, the mix is incredible, it takes into account all the elements and gives them a platform to shine.
This is an incredible album from Winterfylleth and can quite possibly be in contention for my album of the year! If you fancy delving into some mysterious and little known history in the guise of black metal, check out The Reckoning Dawn now!
England's black metal titans Winterfylleth unleash a ferocious new chapter in their story, that is inexplicably woven into the very fabric of the English landscape. After hearing the title single, The Reckoning Dawn, I knew that this album would see the band go back to what they do best, loud and ambitious atmospheric black metal! Not to discredit 2018's The Hallowing Of Heirdom, as that album alone shows the multitude of versatility that the band has with its songwriting and was very enjoyable. However, The Reckoning Dawn sees them reaffirm their reign as the flag bearers of English black metal. The album sees the band carry over some of the themes of The Hallowing Of Heirdom, as well as combining it with what they are known for best. An adventure through England that is sure to ignite the fire of your imagination.
Musically, the album starts with a fierce opening in the guise of Misdeeds Of Faith, which lets you know this album's intent. There is a real aggression about this album that I personally have never felt in a Winterfylleth album before, at least not since 2010's The Mercian Sphere (which has a similar cover to The Reckoning Dawn, I must say). This aggression runs through the album but it is very much positive aspect of the album as it gives the overarching atmospheres a real sense of grandeur and an epic quality. I can imagine myself exploring the Lake District or the New Forrest with this in my ears and it would conjure up spectacular imagery of times gone by and mighty battles fought in the Dark Ages (Brithnoth: The Battle Of Maldon (991AD) from 2008's The Ghost Of Heritage, will always be a favourite of mine). I find that the overarching atmospheres in this album help create these images in my mind, this is a testament to the time spect finely crafting the melodic riffs that this album contains. They seem to soar over the thundering rhythms and chords and gives you a sense of freedom, as if you were flying over the mountains on the cover art. The song that gives me that feeling the most is Absolved In Fire, with it's acoustic/orchestral intro and slow build up into the frenzy it later becomes, feels like a standalone journey in the whole context of the album but fits in just as well with the rest of the songs. Follow this with interlude Betwixt Two Crowns and you have interesting dynamics that slow the albums energy but keeps you fixed in the epic world that it has created. The album is packed from start to finish with a raw and uncompromising passion to deliver hard hitting black metal riffs with intricate soaring and weaving melodies that entice you in and hold you with their deep sense of wonder. Overall a very complete and awesome album that I have no doubt have me exploring obscure areas of history whilst I get lost in it's vast world.
The production is phenomenal to say the least. Retaining the rawness and energy found on previous releases whilst polishing the rougher edges in a similar way to 2018's The Hallowing Of Heirdom. The combination of acoustic and electric guitars in a genre such as this is a bit of a balancing act, because you don't want the distortion to overpower the natural earthy nature of the acoustic, but at the same time you don't want the acoustic detracting from the distortion that creates the main atmosphere. In this case it has been executed superbly, with the introduction of the string arrangements all can be head clearly and augment the distortion with a haunting beauty. The rhythm guitar tones are raw and uncompromising, filled with a lethal amount of treble that we love in black metal. The lead tones are bit softer and a bit more processed to give the melodies a really graceful dynamic. The drums sound really tight at the back with a healthy dose of bass and the click helps the bass punch through the mix, with a snare that snaps harder than an alligator. Overall, the mix is incredible, it takes into account all the elements and gives them a platform to shine.
This is an incredible album from Winterfylleth and can quite possibly be in contention for my album of the year! If you fancy delving into some mysterious and little known history in the guise of black metal, check out The Reckoning Dawn now!
Winterfylleth - The Reckoning Dawn
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