ALBUM REVIEW: The Reckoning Dawn – Winterfylleth

Over the course of a now fourteen year career, WINTERFYLLETH have established themselves as torchbearers for the UK black metal scene. Helping reignite the scene from a dormant slumber back in 2006, over the course of six studio albums, the Manchester-based band’s fusion of frostbitten black metal, an adoration of heritage and flourishes of folk instrumentation has been welcomed with open arms in the underground. Now, looking to retain their place at the top of the tree, comes The Reckoning Dawn, the band’s seventh full-length effort.

To date, WINTERFYLLETH‘s track record has been, to put it simply, exemplary. That golden run of 2010’s The Mercian Sphere, 2012’s The Threnody of Triumph and 2014’s The Divination of Antiquity showed that the UK can go toe to toe with the behemoths of Scandinavia and further afield. Whilst 2016’s The Dark Hereafter didn’t quit meet the lofty expectations of what came before, 2018’s The Hallowing of Heirdom showed a more reserved and softer WINTERFYLLETH. The fully acoustic affair put the band’s collective folk influences in the spotlight and now, as The Reckoning Dawn arrives, one can fully understand where The Hallowing of Heirdom fits in the WINTERFYLLETH ecosystem.

Whilst The Hallowing of Heirdom lacked the black metal bite of what made the band so revered within metal’s underground, two years on, that record seems to have reignited the fire in the band’s collective bellies as Misdeeds of Faith, The Reckoning Dawn‘s opening number, comes roaring out of the gate as colossal, swinging riffs collide with a blistering barrage from Simon Lucas and Chris Naughton‘s vocals are as vicious as ever, with his trademark snarls sounding particularly brilliant when they roar above the harmonised chants from his band-mates. A strong opening and one which shows that the band are back with a bang.

From there, WINTERFYLLETH keep the momentum surging forward and the experience across the entirety of the record is exhilarating. A Hostile Fate (The Wayfarer Pt. 4) boasts some wicked and intoxicating riffing from guitarists Dan Capp and Naughton which keeps the pacing flowing in top gear, the acoustic instrumental of Betwixt Two Crowns serves as the perfect pitstop to catch your breath before diving back into the maelstrom that is Yielding The March Law and album closer In Darkness Begotten ends the album on an enormous high. Here, the song’s flirtation with almost post rock tendencies in the closing moments is a fitting and suitable way to a wrap up proceedings and the way in which is presents itself after another excellent barrage of blistering black metal feels organic and natural.

Arguably, one of the most appealing aspects to WINTERFYLLETH‘s soundscape has been the sense of epic euphoria and The Reckoning Dawn delivers that in spades. A Greatness Undone boasts some slick riffing where the guitar play counters the double-bass barrage expertly well and it’s mid-tempo pacing at the track’s halfway mark conjures the same grandeur you’d expect to find listening to BATHORY whilst Absolved In Fire stands as one of the finest and expansive songs in the band’s locker to date. Weighing in at just shy of ten and a half minutes, gorgeous folk-influenced musicianship paints a picture in the song’s opening sprawl before the band unleash some of their best riffs to date that snap your focus to attention effortlessly. Clever utilisation of pace keeps you immersed in the song’s atmosphere and it demonstrates WINTERFYLLETH at their very best.

Back with a ferocious and almighty bang, The Reckoning Dawn is a magnificent return for the UK black metal’s torchbearers. Whilst there are few surprises in store for seasoned veterans, this album shows a band with reignited passion, a refined focus and it packs a huge sense of overwhelming grandeur, to put it simply; this is WINTERFYLLETH at their very best. We are bearing witness to the return of the kings of UK black metal and they more than deserve their throne.

Rating: 9/10

The Reckoning Dawn is set for release May 8th via Candlelight Records. 

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