Winter of Sin

Originally written for The Inarguable.

Fester is a Norwegian blackened death metal band from Askim, Norway. Led by Bjorn “Tiger” Mathisen on the guitar and vocals, this band is considered one of the leaders in the blending of black metal and death metal styles. This band combines great guitar riffage with excellent vocal work and simplistic, foundational drum work. This album was released to the metal masses way back in 1992 where it received minimal to no play. Perhaps it was overshadowed by the Second Wave of Black Metal that was sweeping Norway at the time. Nonetheless, this album is a true gem among blackened death metal bands, and its reissue by Abyss Records could not have come at a better time (due to a plethora of bands with an interest in the blackened death metal genre).

Winter of Sin is filled with great guitar riffage and some groovin’ songs. For example, the opening and title track, “Winter of Sin” starts this album off in the right direction. Opening up with a sound clip of a traveler walking in the snow, the guitars rip the track right open with a killer, groovy riff. At time marker 2:05, a “breakdown” of sorts is very well utilized before heading back into the main riff. While talking about this track, I have to again mention how simplistic and foundational the drum work is. The drummer provides only what is necessary to further the song. The drumming is not too busy or chaotic, nor is it too simple. Rather, it fits in perfectly with the song. The drumming is definitely my favorite part about the album because of how effectively he utilizes the kit. Finally, this song concludes after retouching on the opening riff. A superb head banging track to kick off the album!

“Winter of Sin” is very much a death metal inspired song. A good example of a black metal inspired song would be the fourth song on the album, “Entering…”. The opening to this song is very similar to a lot of the Second Wave material that was taking place around them. The only difference is that Fester plays there version of Second Wave slower (which helps it retain a groovy, slow head bang kind of feel). When I listen to “Entering…”, I can picture this song being sped up and sounding very Second Wave. Pause this song during any point and think about it, you will understand the point I am trying to get across. “Entering…” is another awesome track off of this ten song gem.

Winter of Sin is an amazing piece of art. The blending of black metal and death metal on this record is truly a perfect balance of 50/50. I feel that many bands that play blackened death metal cater towards one side of the genre inside of catering equally to both. Fester has found that blend and they have down to a science! Not only do they have the overall formula down, but they also have seamless transitions down to a science as well. If you are not paying attention at 100%, you can’t even tell when the band switches from black metal to death metal and vice versa. This tells me that they are experts at their craft, a truly great blackened death metal band! I highly recommend this reissue (plus it contains a live bonus track!). Help support great blackened death metal and show some respect!

The debut album by the Norwegians always went fairly unheeded in the metal scene and even by now only some die-hard freaks know of the sheer existence of that band. Aficionados and fans have long since embossed this album as well as the second release, "Silence". To the clueless folks, the album shall be explained as follows:

"Winter of Sin" is a quite common black/death metal release and still differs from the bulk of the contemporaneously released albums of this genre. The disc well contains the tough elemental force of the young Darkthrone or Emperor releases, yet it never aims at their speed and frenzy, instead poaching more doom-like realms. In other ways as well Fester musically are ever a tad closer to the classical heavy metal than to typical black metal of Norwegian character. Again and again the songs are reined in and the riffs travel well through the auditory canal like a stream of lava. On top of that, there's the absolutely manic, hoarse caterwauling by lead singer Rolf Tommy Simonsen. The vocals, in my humble opinion, depict the only small demerit in the overall concept of this opus, but that should be a matter of taste anyway. As far as I'm concerned, I definitely approve more of the second release in that way. At any rate, Fester never got the standing they should be entitled to and since the follow-up album didn't succeed as desired, the band broke apart for 17 solid years. A reunion didn't occur until 2010.

Tracks like the oppressive "The Ancient Gods Wore Black" build an excellent backdrop of creepiness before the listener's mind's eye and knows how to get them where it's one hair short of hurting: in the deepest abyss of their own souls. Songs about suicidal fantasies (Winter of Sin, Entering) can also be found as those turning away from the light and worshiping the dark side (The Ancient Gods Wore Black).

Songs by the nature of "Senses Are The True You", however, blissfully incite you to think of your own instead of tagging along mainstream. It's an album with a wide array of variations so to speak that doesn't even shy away from moony solos (Liberation) and somehow already hints which way the band would develop. This album is blasphemous, inexorable, and as a first edition hard-to-get, costing an arm and a leg. Fortunately, there's a reissue (also with the album "Silence") which comes up with a bonus (live) track each. It's your own fault if you don't grab one of these, folks!

Fester's Winter of Sin has been out of print for some time now (on CD, at least). Being that it's one of very few death metal cult classics from the land of Norway in the early 90s, and obscure, old school death metal is growing quite popular alongside the many young acts that worship the style, it makes perfect sense for a label to license and re-issue it, which is what Abyss Records have done here. Sadly, I'm not sure that time has been all that kind to this band, who originally existed from 1989 to the mid 90s before a recent reformation. I'll go further and admit that I was never much of a fan to begin with. The songs feel no more hooky or interesting now than they did almost 20 years ago, and they simply don't have the gruesome and fascinating staying power of a band like Molested.

However, Fester get a few points for their vision, which was somewhat unorthodox for death metal bands of their day. The riffs move largely in a sluggish sense that evokes a doom/death hybrid, while the vocals are rasped much like the black metal genre. The Norse have a strict dynamic sense, with clashing drums and sloth-like mute phrasing to the guitars that are not above or afraid to emit melodic components where necessary, and they'll often throw in this great echoed chamber into a track like "Sences Are the True You" which allows for several seconds at least of real menace ala Pestilence meeting Darkthrone, or a strange peripheral similarity to Celtic Frost or Hellhammer. The occasional noodly solos can be distracting, perhaps effective under a different mix, and the actual riffs are rarely ear catching beyond their archaic authenticity, so there are just not any songs here I can really get into.

The primal, almost minimal of "As the Swords Clinch the Air" loses traction when it erupts into the mid pace with tinny drums, and the strange rock & roll grooves of "A Dogfight Leaves a Trace" feel clamorous and out of place, both contributing to the sloppy overall feel. Certain tracks such as "The Commitments That Shattered" or the atmospheric "Liberation" are more taut and acceptable than others, but neither holds up particularly well against the better death (or black) metal albums that were being cranked out in this period. Winter of Sin was never a horrible album, per se, but it's a little weak for anything more than cult appeal. That said, I know there are folks out there who enjoy these records (and I feel that the sophomore Silence is a little better than this), so having them back in circulation doesn't hurt, especially with a remix and remaster.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com