The Pitch: Fifth album from English atmospheric black metal three-piece. "At once rich in sound, beguilingly delicate, and yet laced with cold darkness." Produced by of Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ulver, Primordial, Solstafir).
What I Like: There are some moments here that really tug at my emotions. Not unlike Enslaved's work on albums like Below the Lights, the juxtapositioning of harsh against sorrowful beauty can result in quite the catharsis. The vocals and production are strong, and the compositions are certainly vast. I was also often considering this as a black metal counterpoint to Insomnium's Winter's Gate. In terms of riffs and overall power, I really enjoy "V" and consider this to be the greatest vision fully realized on the record. Also, this album has a fantastic cover design.
What I Don't Like: I get bored. I'm sorry. This album's overall score is marred largely by my own qualms against lengthy, meandering tracks that do progress, but don't always capture my imagination. For others with a more chill, introspective ear; I could see Winter ending up on a year end list.
The Verdict: Don't take my word for it and don't determine your listening time based on the score alone. I appreciated Fen's latest work enough to warrant sharing it with you all, and I really do think that some of you will argue it deserves a much higher rating. Listen and make your own decision. Winter releases this Friday.
Flight's Fav's: III, V
