Winter's Embrace

Canada’s Frosthammer is a very stylish black metal outfit that might capture the ear of many a black metal fan in the coming months.

This trio is on its second demo release, this one titled Winter’s Embrace and I think you might want to watch out for these guys. Somewhat primitive (like their contemporaries) the rawness and talent are evident throughout. The minute this started pouring out of my speakers I knew something very good was in the making. For a demo the production is as “kvlt” as it gets while still being enjoyable and discernable with a nice mix of the instruments. There’s no boom-box sound here.

The tracks are cold black metal the way it should be heard, and while they’re no Vinterland or Darkthrone just yet these guys might just take you by surprise. Especially good is the opener “In Silence”, though the rest of the demo fares just fine as well. It’s dim and haunting metal like the Swedes are famous for creating. A mesh of Bathory’s Blood Fire Death and a splash of Hammerheart with some early ‘90’s black metal fit the perfect mold here.

Check them out when you can at their site and support the underground!

(Originally written for http://www.metalpsalter.com)