Leave it all behind, for here comes Winterblind. This is prog metal like you’ve never heard it before. A recipe from the personalities that make the band-there are references and then what they create. Their latest album is the annihilation of presumption in metal, creating effectively what will be their most recognised work soon. Some singles from last year and a refreshing collection of cranium crushers awaits you. This one is called EGO.
Made of members from Antwerp (Belgium) and UK, this band is truly a culmination of cultures. But metal is more than culture, its artistic representation at its rawest. Perhaps why a metal song about authoritarianism hits harder than a pop song about the same. When you click the little green button that unleashes this album, you’re treated to a dissonant, loud opening that is the harbinger of chaos. Alleen Mor Steirve is the opening song. As this is prog metal, imagine yourself counting time for complex time signatures, while notations chug and spread through the background.
The power in strong delivery
I AM ME is the identification mark this band needs to carry for how they carry themselves. Instrumental delight opens up the album, while more elements come together to give us some blistering hot vocals. Winterblind brings screams that are packed with energy, with riffs being something you want to head bang desperately to. They use the silence in pockets to draft a brilliant piece of art, making something of intrigue and complexity.
Fossil comes together after this, making a groovy opening visualise some melody dances in front of your eyes. They might be muted strings, but the way they play out lead the charge in every way. You might also consider this as a Tool interlude, that is till the vocals and riff kick you in the shin and take you out. It is an incredibly executed song, something that has great movement within melody pockets.
embed-It steers in ways beautifully into Distraction Waltz. One of my personal favourites, you can hear the melodies and structure come together with some great depth and texture. Also, one of their heaviest in parts, you can see how aspects flow into each other and use the rhythm to their advantage. Winterblind make their time composing music worth it, telling us narratives rather than growling muck which many bands do get away with. A commendable job on bass on the track Cult Broker. The track really carries a whole other layer of personality while bringing the true sound that they have designed for themselves. They have studied the music that made their inspiration and proceeded forward to make a memorable collection of tracks that are melodic, thoughtful, strong and push in that power.
When the album closes with Keep Posing, you face a reality. A band has put their all in creating an album that will be their catalogue they can be proud of. We can attest to it. Follow them on their Facebook and Instagram as well, and listen to it here:
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Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
