Winterfylleth – The Mercian Sphere
Gateway To The Dark Peak – The Solitary One Waits For Grace (The Wayfarer Pt I)
Awakens He, Bereft of Kinsmen (The Wayfarer Pt II)
The Fields Of Reckoning
Children Of The Stones
The Ruin
The Honour Of Good Men On The Path To Eternal Glory
To Find Solace, Where Security Stands (The Wayfarer Pt III)
When The Woods Were Young
A Valley Thick With Oaks
Defending The Realm
Although black metal remains a typically Scandinavian export, these talented Mancunians boast a refreshingly English angle. Paying homage to long-dead warriors and pagan gods, Winterfylleth’s self-coined “English heritage black metal” harnesses a savagely beautiful sound. Nevertheless, ‘The Mercian Sphere’ demonstrates a number of unmistakably Norwegian influences spawned from the band’s love of Enslaved and Ulver. Spanning tragic, violent and tender moods, their Candlelight debut is loaded with emotionally-charged delights.
Despite clumsily long titles, each complex track is superbly written and performed. Though often executed at warp speed, ‘…Sphere’s’ appeal extends far beyond that of aggression, unveiling layer upon layer of syrupy guitars and blackened folk. Spliced with intricate breakdowns and melodic interludes, its old school attributes are expertly revamped into progressive perfection. Reeking of gothic doom, ‘The Ruin’s’ granite-heavy guitars are backed by a battle metal-style rhythm section, creating a haunting yet relentlessly aggressive standout. Sandwiched in a series of ferocious offerings, the entirely acoustic ‘Children Of The Stones’ is a quintessentially English piece illustrating superior musicianship with a moving fusion of fiddles and mellow chord progressions.
While Winterfylleth constantly interchange cuts of folk and black metal, ‘…Sphere’ maintains a seamless quality that never appears awkward or mismatched. Recounting epic tales drenched in modern metal and ancient melodies, it is a truly chameleonic record. 8/10
Reviewed by Faye Coulman
‘The Merican Sphere’ is out now on Candlelight
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