Wanna hear one of the best Norwegian styled black metal bands in the world that doesn't come from Norway? Then be sure to check out their latest release on Candlelight Records, The Divination of Antiquity, their fourth overall in a career that shows no signs of slowing down. Hailing from the UK, Christopher Naughton (Guitars/Vocals), Simon Lucas
(Drums), Nick Wallwork (Bass/Backing Vocals), and Mark Wood (Lead Guitar), apply all the elements of classic Norwegian black metal; manic blast beats, wonderful fast picked tremolo riffs, brooding menace, and screeching, raspy vocals, all delivered over freezing cold musical landscapes. "Whisper Of The Elements" fluctuates between raging passages as well as moments of chilling atmosphere, while the title cut embraces the symphonic attack of Dark Funeral but with more melodic results. "Warrior Herd" and "Foundations Of Ash" are relentless in their pounding, but the band goes for a more somber, melancholic stance on the lengthy "A Careworn Heart", complete with some nicely textured musical passages and tortured screams. Gorgeous acoustic guitars come out on the lovely "The World Ahead", before the band dives head first into Enslaved styled progressive black metal on "Over Borderlands", featuring some of Naughton's most forceful vocals on the album. If the album by this point isn't varied enough for you, Winterfylleth throws in some intricate, doomy arrangements on the closer "Forsaken In Stone", at times sounding like a cross between Enslaved & Opeth.
The band cites their music as "Passionate, anthemic black metal inspired by the history, heritage and landscapes of England." That basically says it all, a formula that works for the Scandinavian black metal bands, and clearly works for this lethal horde from the UK. Make sure you don't miss this one.
Track Listing
01_The Divination Of Antiquity
02_Whisper Of The Elements
03_Warrior Herd
04_A Careworn Heart
05_Foundations Of Ash
06_The World Ahead
07_Over Borderlands
08_Forsaken In Stone
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