Spring Into Winter
Fylleth your cup dear friends as there is abundant darkness in this year’s yield, it has been a fruitful and promising harvest so far. Waving the flag for black metal here in the UK our proud purveyors of English heritage make a triumphant return with ‘The Reckoning Dawn’. Steeped in the ancestral, historical stories of old, they are designed to be relevant to the demands and determinations of our world today. Let us bathe in the romanticism of the ‘Winter Full Moon’ as we hunker down for the season of frost and snow and bring everyone in to rejoice in the coldness, the crispness and the gloom.
Opening with the ‘Misdeeds Of Faith’ it is a cracking little filly galloping friskily over the dressage fences, not missing a trick here and then breaking out into a nifty riff at 4.15 and turning it up a notch at 4.55, quite funky really. Resplendent with fantastic harmonies and layering of vocals it is a great start to this album. We embark on a journey on foot with ‘A Hostile Fate- The Wayfarer pt.4’ and feel the snapping of twigs and rustling of leaves underfoot and fling ourselves headlong for the anthemic and chant-themic finish. A dreamy and tranquil string section opens ‘Absolved In Fire’ until 2.30 when the gauntlet is thrown down, challenging anyone that crosses its path. The title track is up next sweeping elegantly over fields and streams in one continuous flowing, uninterrupted movement, buoyant and bountiful.
‘Betwixt Two Crowns’ allows us a well-earned break, take a seat my friends for a minute and a half. With ‘Yielding The March Law’ the forest beckons, enter at the behest of your sanity or insanity if you will, and succumb to the quite orchestral build up and delivery of another smasher. There is theatre and drama in the words and music and make way for another mega riff at 5.09 that steadies the course to the end of this song. We get closure at a time when it is essential to put things to bed, to be rid of any indecision and that is done ‘In Darkness Begotten’ quite skilfully. Although there is that background of foreboding and uncertainty, there is also steadfastness, sagacity and a firm grip on what is right and true. The snarling beast vocals present themselves throughout and the animal within is unleashed, powerful, dominant and defiant. Sitting pretty in the producer’s chair is Chris Fielding (Napalm Death) so you see where we are heading. Jump into this cauldron of electric soup folks and do a casual backstroke, or a butterfly if you’re feeling adventurous. You can then settle down at the fireside in the sprawling Gothic splendour that is The Reckoning Dawn, you will sleep this night in the ash and cinders of the fallout of such incandescence and my friends, rise in glory and accept your destiny.