ALBUM REVIEW: The Unyielding Season – Winterfylleth
Black metal is not the first thing that would come to mind upon considering a genre of music to play when raising your voice on topics you care about unless you are into really niche religious topics one could say. There will always be bands that go beyond the themes that are typical of some alternative music subgenres such as power metal or, well, black metal too. From comedy to history and everything in between, alternative music was always designed to be vocal. That is where WINTERFYLLETH showcase their uniqueness. In a subgenre of music that can be seen as controversial at times, this British black metal outfit focuses on themes such as nature and folklore, topics that hit close to home to the the band members. As they have done throughout their career, and on their latest effort, The Unyielding Season, not only do the band prove that this concept still works, but that it is more relevant than ever before.
Echoes In The After is the second track on The Unyielding Season, and kicks off with some very heavy, doomy guitar riffs on top of blast beats as the vocals kick in. This all happens at once creating an unsuspecting start to this near six-and-a-half-minute behemoth. The chorus is unique as it is just instrumental. The guitars were made to be the highlight of this track, and it clearly works. The solo section here is one of the best on the entire album. It starts off underwhelming but as soon as both guitars start harmonizing, it is incredibly haunting. This leads into the pre chorus one last time before another guitar harmonized melody takes over, but this time, with vocals on top of it to wrap the song up as it fades out.
The following song starts off with a drum fill that is repeated until the vocals come in. The guitars make themselves known not soon after the drums, giving A Hollow Existence a WATAIN vibe to it. The chorus continues in the same direction, as with a punk inspired rhythm, the hook is another standout on this record. The bridge is where things pick up. Blast beats take over to give this track a more traditional black metal sound before the chorus returns once more. The track ends with another slower more ambient-led slow section which makes you feel as peaceful as if you were hiking in a forest.
The title track of the album comes just before the halfway point. This one kicks off with another very gothic, doomy sounding riff before the drums kick in to help introduce the vocals. After the first verse, things get progressively more atmospheric, as the following section is just as heavy as what came before it, just more dramatic and moodier. What follows is a breathtaking guitar solo which starts off without the drums, but when the beat returns, the emotion is felt instantly. The vocals return after this to create a semi melody with the guitars, as you would expect in a melodic death metal song hook. The song ends with a similar combination of vocals and guitar work, closing this track in truly satisfying fashion.
After a interlude track of acoustic guitars and subtly layered synthesizers, the longest song on the album begins to take you on the journey it has to offer, and it is incredibly unique for a black metal song. Kicking off with synths one would expect from a sci-fi show, before the non-distorted guitars change to full on heaviness with the introduction of the vocals, as everything speeds up in time for the first verse three minutes in. Another instrumental section leads into the incredibly melodic hook, which once again gives off a melodic death metal vibe. After the second chorus, a simple musical passage segues into another uber catchy guitar driven section before WINTERFYLLETH return to their atmospheric prowess to end the journey.
The album closes with Enchantment which is six seconds shy off being tied with In Ashen Wake for the longest song on the album. Once again though, this song takes you on one last hike. A cover of PARADISE LOST‘s opening track of 1995’s classic Draconian Times. There are elements here, where the clean vocals give off a hard rock vibe in the verses, and in the choruses, these vocals help elevate the gloomy sound the band are evidently trying to capture. At times, the guitar melodies help make these vocals stand out, and in other moments, the guitars give life to this track on their own, as the riffs are incredibly melancholic throughout this song. The solo section here kicks off with the chord progression present in the chorus before lead guitarist Russell Dobson takes over and adds a layer of melody before the drums speed things up one last time. This leads into the ending part of the full record. A very peaceful sounding keyboard section which plays the chorus on repeat, which is a surreal way to close off the record with, as the synths have for the most part been in the background throughout. A hauntingly refreshing way to end things.
Overall, this album is consistently fast paced, yet melodic with both guitars standing out, as well as the consistently solid vocal performances from Naughton. This is where the emotion in his voice is truly felt. With The Unyielding Season, WINTERFYLLETH mark their ninth release, and mark themselves as one of the more consistent black metal bands in the country, as well as one of the more vocal outfits in British black metal. This helps them stand out in a way that is unique to the sub-genre of music they play. Showcasing that even within the darkest corners of music, light can be seen too.
Rating: 8/10
The Unyielding Season is out now via Napalm Records.
Like WINTERFYLLETH on Facebook.