Fimbul Winter takes control of its destiny.
Formed by three former members of Amon Amarth, Niko Kaukinen (drums), Fredrik Andersson (guitar, A Canorous Quintet, ex-Netherbird, ex-Vananidr) and Anders Biazzi (Just Before Dawn), the band recruited Clint Williams (vocals, Munitions) to record their first EP, What Once Was.
Bass was recorded by Tobias Cristiansson (Necrophobic, In Aphelion, Darkened, ex-Grave, ex-Dismember…).
The band kicks off without delay with the icy Storms Rage, which features catchy riffs rooted in an aggressive Old School approach, reinforced by furious vocals, but the sharp lead guitar is not to be outdone. The song remains fairly simple, slowing down on the choruses to weave imposing sounds that combine with the roars, but the eponymous title track, What Once Was, brings a touch of melancholy with its harmonics. The haunting rhythm is perfect for these more soaring sounds, even making room for a few words that momentarily replace the saturated vocals, but the unifying choruses bring us back to a more martial atmosphere before charging forward again towards Mounds Of Stones. While the opening moments are very calm and soothing, the band quickly returns to its thick and abrasive foundation at full speed, creating a veritable wave of constant raw power that wears down the listener before moving on to A Soul That Soared, where we find haunting melodies, but also a certain diversity in the vocals, varying in intensity and bordering on the plaintive at times. The track finally gives way to In Solitude’s Embrace, which combines sharp tones and moments of unapologetic ferocity where blast beats and double pedals lead the dance, but which allows the guitars to add haunting tones that serve the song perfectly and bring this first EP to a beautiful close.
If you think modern Melodic Death Metal is too smooth, Fimbul Winter is the solution to all your problems. What Once Was has dug into its rawest roots to offer an abrasive sound and remind us of the creation of this intense and heady genre.
95/100