Against All Who Breathe

Sadly, when 'Symphonic Black Metal' is mentioned, people think of 'Dimmu Borgir' or 'Old Man's Child'. Fuck them, and fuck those bands. Winterthrone is the real deal, and what all symphonic black metal should sound like. Winterthrone knows how to combine creepy atmosphere, well-orchestrated symphonic passages, and all-out fucking brutality, and it's all beautifully displayed here on their album, 'Against All Who Breathe', an album that came as a complete surprise to me upon purchase.

First off, the contrast between the Symphonic parts and the Black Metal parts is just, striking. While more mainstream Symphonic bands like to make it flow into each passage, and be more melodic, Winterthrone go from eerie, well-written and preformed full-orchestral passages, to pure Panzerfaust era Darkthrone style black metal, without flow, within a second - and still sound surprisingly good.

The production is scattered. For the orchestral parts, it is crystal clear, every instrument heard perfectly. When the songs scream into an all-out metal assault, the production becomes very Moonblood-ish, with virtually no low end. But that's something I am used to, and have actually grown to appreciate. The guitars are very crunchy, and rather low in the mix (doesn't bother me, considering the drums dont' block them out or anything), but still provide Blissful Sonic EarRape, with lots of Euronymous-style Tremolo Picking. The drums are your standard black metal drumming, fast, precise, and relentless. The vocals are interesting because they go from high, raspy screams to low, gutteral, almost Death Metal growls.

All the songs present are good, with a few filler songs, here and there, not to often. 'Scarsoul' starts of soundling like a piece of Phillip Glass music, then tears your fucking heart out as the guitars rip in after the pounding of an orchestal bass drum. The screams and tremolo picking are in abundance, and this is probably the fastest song on the album, and also probably one of the best songs as well. 'Into the Storms of Wrath' has the best intro, with a very eerie, mood-setting orchestra intro. When the guitars come it, they aren't as intense or as brutal as the previous track, but still provide for good listening. 'Nails of Ice' is a very generic track, but that doesn't mean it's bad. They are trying too hard to sound like a Symphonic Immortal here, and don't succede. We also get more of the death-metal style growling here. 'The Last Ones' is just bland, and is a shitter. Bad song, just pass it up. The rest of the tracks are decent, filler if anything.

Winterthrone is an excellent, overlooked Symphonic Black Metal band, and if you are a fan of Symphonic Black Metal, or Black Metal in general - check them out. Brutal, and atmospheric.