I’m not known for my love of all things Kvlt & Blvk or whatever the angry badgers refer to themselves as these days. Black metal has always been a bit ‘take it or leave it’ for me. Some bands I really like- Watain, Winterfylleth, Dark Throne, Immortal, Eastern Front but most BM bands – that most journos drop their sumps over (Emperor….seriously, I don’t get it), leave me wondering what all the fuss is about. So I write this review, not as a die hard, goat worshipping shed burner but as a fan of extreme metal in general.
I like Satanic Warmaster, I loved the primitive rawness of 2010’s ‘Nachzehrer’, the abrasive guitar work coupled with the haunting melodies and rough but really live sounding production struck a chord with me when I first got it and I did a fair bit of reading about Werwolf, the seemingly controversial but always articulate mastermind behind these feral Finns. Now five years later, following a handful of 7″ EPs and splits, we have the follow up in ‘Fibulwinter’ unleashed upon us. This was actually released at the tail end of last year on Werewolf Records as a limited digipak (I have it – catalogue no Evil666…. obviously) but it should get a wider distribution in 2015 seeing as how the excellent Hells Headbangers have picked it up for a world wide release. And I hope it does well as it’s one hell of a killer record.
The first thing that you’ll notice is the massively improved production by Werwolf himself. No more ‘recorded on an old Walkman….. in a biscuit tin….. buried in a compost heap’ production values here. No Sir! The sound is similar to the last two Watain albums, clear, precise yet in your face and not detracting from the pointed savagery of the songs. Excellent job mate. ‘Fimbulwinter’ sees the band expanding into deeper more ambitious, epic and majestic waters. This album is pure class from beginning to end, kicking off with the raging ‘Fimbulwinters Spell’ – this sets the tone for the whole record. Atmospheric melodic yet icey cold and full of malignancy at it’s heart. Powerful riffing propels this song which is sure to be a live set opener.
‘Funeral Wolves’ follows and this is one of my favourite tracks, peppered with synth and bombastic drumming this sounds like early Dimmu Borgir but better. Now I’m sure some self appointed kvlt inner circle wannabe wankers will turn their noses up at the more accessible songs on the record and ‘Funeral Wolves’ is one of them but for me this is really positive thing. And probably for Werwolf too. Satanic Warmaster could, with ‘Fimbulwinter’ rise up from their obscure under ground niche and take their rightful place in the scene without, to my ears anyway sacrificing any integrity – personally or artistically.
‘Nuin Gaer Faun’ is a beautiful and classic sounding heavy metal song with only that waspish sinister guitar tone of Werwolves giving the hint of something sinister and malevolent bubbling under the surface of it’s intoxicating melodies. Final track, the instrumental ‘Silent Call of Moon’s Temples’ is 8m24s of haunting ambience and an ideal closer. is a complete ambient track, and the soothing effect brings about the Tolkien-inspired Summoning, sure to please fans of epic and atmospheric black metal.
While other Finnish bands such as Behexen have gone a bit ‘off piste’ musically Satanic Warmaster the mighty Sargeist in flying the flag of traditional black metal in Finland. Fimbulwinter is an excellent portfolio of modern Finnish black metal and should be hear by as many BM fans as possible….. and even non BM liking death / grind heads like me.
Belter.
(9/10 Mark Eve)
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