With the return of cold, wet winds, the fall of leaves under darkened evenings, its the perfect time to get back into Black Metal! Released March of this year, I'd held an obviously exceptional The Unyielding Season back for these moody months and boy has this record hit! Churning with the roar and rumble of vicious might, It doesn't take long for rattling blast beats and howling screams to pivot upon an emotive narrative.
With the arrival of rich atmospheric synths, a chemistry ignites, as the dark brooding gives way to melodic gratification. Chord progressions melt and ooze over this brazen exterior without softening its beastly majesty. Thus we revel in the union of inspired emotional direction and brutal heathen barbarism. It lets this ceaseless vivid music traverse scenic natural beauties through an intense lensing from both directions.
A matured ebb and flow lets this music breath on occasion, calming from its mostly wild ride of intensity. Soaring across landscapes of rural wonder, evoking the sense of longing for mother nature, The Unyielding Season tapes of a familiar vein of Black Metal with absolute class and conviction. A brilliant execution of this niche sound.
The back end of this one cools off with a couple of beautiful acoustic guitar interludes, lined with folk string sections. It sets up a mighty ending, Enchantment. The mid-tempo pivot and manly Gothic singing has this track feeling like a cover... I just looked it up, fellow Brits Paradise Lost! Anyways, great record. One of the best this year.
Rating: 8/10