Winterhorde: Maestro

Billing themselves as an Israeli Progressive Extreme Metal band, Winterhorde enter their fifteenth year with Maestro. Almost half that time (six years) has passed since their well received third album, Underwatermoon, something probably caused by the much changed line up, with only bassist Sascha Lassman and keyboard, guitar, theramin(!) player Alexander Feldman remaining from the original version of the band. Although vocalist Z. Winter returns after a seven year absence. Therefore this is a different Winterhorde, guitarists Dima Stoller and Omer Naveh, drummer Maor Netz and yet another guitarist and vocalist, Ig Kun, all joining alongside Winter in 2014; allowing the band to stride confidently into even more darkly theatric territory. However the brutality this outfit are known for remains and yet with spoken word sections, scene setting atmospheric intro's and a surprising lightness of touch, the depth on display here is quite something to behold.

It would be easy to throw names such as Opeth, Behemoth, Septicflesh and so on at Winterhorde and yes, they'd stick, but I'd venture that this band's individual take on those themes and how they mould the aggression to the fragile, the foreboding power to the gentle caress of evil, while never for one second sounding contrived, makes them a band leading the pack rather than following. With V. Santura producing and mixing and Jens Bogren mastering, the sound is dense and rich (if not quite as dynamic as that duo's involvement should suggest), the atmosphere full and heady, while the might with which everything is delivered is ferocious, yet considered.

It's about now that you'd expect me to pick out highlights and yet try as I might to separate the gallop and dark beauty of "Chronic Death", the classical strings and gentle choral voices of "A Dying Swan", or the roaming, unsettling, yet roaring and despairing title track, the true strength of this album is its genuine quality from start to finish. Something the addition of a second vocalist heightens magnificently, the diverse mix of clean singing styles, rasps, shouts, gargles and growls, ensuring you never lose interest. Although equally eclectically cohesive music pretty much does that on its own anyway.

Maestro really is an album that grows and grows with repeat listens, the depth and breadth of its achievements only really coming into true focus after you've lived with it for quite some time. When that connect clicks into the place, the rewards tumble forth continually, making this one of the best albums you'll hear this year and maybe beyond.

Track Listing
1. The Night in Prague
2. Antipath
3. Worms of Soul
4. The came with Eyes of Fire
5. Chronic Death
6. The Heart of Coryphee
7. A Dying Swan
8. Maestro
9. Through the Broken Mirror
10. Cold
11. Dancing In Flames

Added: September 5th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Winterhorde online
Hits: 2206
Language: english

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