Evocative, emotional, atmospheric… beautiful. I have run out of adjectives to try and describe the feelings I have when I listen to this recording. Written over a 5 year period, Dan Capp, the artist behind Wolcensmen, and guitarist in Winterfylleth, has poured his heart and soul into each and every track. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Winterfylleth
WINTERFYLLETH – “The Dark Hereafter”
Following on from 2104’s excellent and career defining release, “The Divination Of Antiquity”, England’s heritage black metal heroes Winterfylleth are back. With their label sold and becoming part of the Spinefarm family these songs have been in the can for a while, so its good to see them finally see the light of day.
The title track kicks things off with familiar blast beats and whirling guitars and those who bathed in TDOA will know the track “Pariahs Path”. “Ensigns Of Victory” is my favourite track from the opening three, which have a different feel to the last two tracks with the familiar folk tinged black metal assault. Continue reading
METAL CULTURE – THE BLACK METAL BREWERY (Edinburgh, Scotland) – All Five Ales
“Hi Mark, do you mind if I drop some beer round for you to drink and write about?” said Alex. “Seriously? Are you winding me up? Of course bud’ I replied…. And soon enough the boss was at my door with a selection of fine ales from the Loanhead based… It’s in Scotland, look it up… Black Metal Brewery, which was spooky as we’d both been to see northern monkey black metallers, Winterfylleth, the night before.
Now Alex has asked me to write about these lovely bottles of brown wonderment because he knows I’m a member of CAMRA and suspects I might know a thing or two about beer. I’m not a total beer scoring uber nerd but I do drink a lot of real ale. It’s nice. It’s proper. Making it is an art form. Now my wife – Brutal Ruth – says I’m what’s known as a ‘functioning alcoholic’ (she can talk, flat out on the sofa watching ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ with an empty bottle of rose next to her..) but I prefer the term ‘drinking enthusiast’. Continue reading
WINTERFYLLETH – “The Divination Of Antiquity”
So here we are; 4 Winterfylleth albums in… yet it only seems like yesterday that these boys were playing in front of a few staunch separatists like myself in sweaty underground clubs. The band as a group, since all but the very earliest live outings, has been consistent and since the second album, “The Mercian Sphere”, the same lads have written and recorded the music. The thing is, the band themselves have been on a bit of a journey in the last 12 months, and I believe that this has resulted in the album of their careers thus far. A tour with Enslaved, festival appearances around Europe and then time to reflect and write have resulted in something very special indeed. Continue reading
VARIOUS ARTISTS – “One And All, Together, For Home”
Various Artists – “One And All, Together, For Home”
Beautifully packaged on both CD and Vinyl versions, a collection of bands delve into their nation’s musical cultural heritage and produce music generally not associated with their ‘regular’ output. The idea was born from Roman Saenko (Hate Forest, Drudkh, Old Silver Key, Rattenfanger and others!) and Drudkh feature with 2 tracks based on Ukrainian folk songs. Continue reading
ArcTanGent FESTIVAL, Somerset (28/08/2013 – 31/08/2013)
“From the makers of 2000trees, ArcTanGent is a new 3,000 capacity festival featuring bands & DJs of a more Experimental / Post-Rock / Progressive / Leftfield variety… think bands like Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Battles, The Mars Volta, 65daysofstatic, Fuck Buttons, And So I Watch You From Afar, Three Trapped Tigers and Fantomas”
Well with a mission statement like that how can I not have been excited! Happily (with the help of Damnation Festival) they well and truly delivered. Continue reading
CANDLEFEST (Day 3) @ The Underworld, London (26/08/2013)
The Oxfordshire based Candlelight Records hosted it’s now annual feast of delights from its current roster of bands at The Underworld in Camden Town, over 3 days. Sadly I couldn’t attend days 1 & 2 because of other commitments, but I hear from other notable attendees that Anaal Nathrakh laid waste to the subterranean venue on the Friday with Altar Of Plagues bowing out for good apparently on the Saturday with an emotional set. I wish that I could have been there.
However, I made it on Sunday for what was for me one of the best line ups for ANY gig/festival thus far in 2013. Continue reading
WINTERFYLLETH, EASTERN FRONT & JØTNARR – Live @ Colchester Arts Centre (13/07/2013)
Having favourite bands and venues can be a frustration when they rarely combine; the preferred bands are frequently placed in less than ideal venues. However, sometimes the stars align and the experience is enhanced by the act and the location making the performance more than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, when such a pairing is such a long way away from home, it is a battle for common sense and compulsion to decide… so a flight was booked to take me back to one of my old haunts in England. Compulsion is so much more rewarding! Continue reading
WINTERFYLLETH – “The Threnody Of Triumph”
Friends, Romans and Englishmen, here we have the third album by the mighty Winterfylleth, a band unashamedly close to my heart. OK confession time as for myself, ‘The Mercian Sphere’ resonated deeply within me, and not wanting to sound like a sycophantic prick, was and STILL is a spiritual experience with each listen. Some music can at times have me in tears, and that release did, and for all the right reasons! Continue reading