Nordicwinter/This Mournful Dawn/Naturmacht Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Quebec,  Canada's  solo  project  Nordicwinter  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "This  Mournful  Dawn"  which  will  be  released  on  August  25th  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  g8ive  the  music  more  an  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are  utilized  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  When  the music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  spoken  word  parts  and  the  album  close s with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  agony  and  emptiness  themes.   

  In  my  opinion t his  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nordicwinter  and  if  yuo  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Enshrouded  By  Winter"  and  "As  Twilight  Fades".  8 out  of  10.

  Video link 

Nordicwinter/Sorrow/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Nordicwinter  are  a  solo  project  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Sorrow"  which  will  be  released  on  March  26th  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  

  Clean  playing  and  synths  which  also  appear  on  the  later  songs  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  atmospheric  elements  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melancholic  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.

  One  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  nature  orientated  soundscapes  along  with  all  of  the  music  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  closing  track  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  agony,  emptiness  and  death  themes.      

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nordicwinter  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sullen  Echoes"  and  "Dying  Winters".  8  out  of  10.

 "Sorrow" Pre-order Link

"Sorrow" on Bandcamp

Nordicwinter Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?

My fourth Nordicwinter album will be entitled "Sorrow" and will be released in March 2021 by Hypnotic Dirge Records. The great thing is that he's also doing some merch bundles for that release. Some interesting items should be available once it's launched. Keep an eye out for that.

2.In 2020 you had released 2 albums with this project, musically how do they both differ from each other?

I would say that 'Requiem' is a more varied album then 'Desolation' in terms of musical style. It has faster sections, slow parts, it even has some blast beats. While 'Desolation' is slower and more atmospheric throughout. I really like both albums, but 'Desolation' is closer to what I want Nordicwinter to be in the future, a more atmospheric depressive project.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored on both of the releases?

The lyrical themes and subject matter on both albums are somewhat similar, as both deal with death, dying, solitude and despair. Most of the lyrics are from the first person perspective and are written to convey the despair and the longing to die, the hopelessness and bleak outlook on what life has been and what is yet to come.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nordicwinter'?

At the time the Nordicwinter project was created in 2005 or so, the music was supposed to be just 'basic black metal'. So I wanted a basic name to go with that, Nordicwinter was the most basic name I could come up with. Over the years Nordicwinter's music has obviously evolved and changed, but it's a bit late to change the name to encapsulate what Nordicwinter has become. But honestly, I don't think it really matters.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork on the recent album cover?

In Canada, we have lots of forests, and for me, being in the forest really separates you from the outside world we live in day to day. Even though a forest is vast, you still feel isolated and alone within it. I wanted to make the artwork of 'Desolation' that represents that feeling.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience working with full line ups, how would you compare the two?

I really enjoyed working with band mates and working on music as a group, even though in most bands I was in, I ended up writing most of the music by myself. Working with other people was fun and having input from different people can be useful at times.

But doing everything myself I find it easier in terms of bringing everything together from the initial vision I had when a song or project is started to the final result. Granted, I don't have anyone else to bounce ideas around with, but overall I do enjoy having the final say in what the music turns out to be. A unilateral vision is always better then trying to bring multiple ideas to mesh as one, in my personal opinion.

7.You also have 2 other solo projects, how this the music of 'Nordicwinter' differ from your other projects?

I do still enjoy multiple styles of music, and being able to create everything myself lets me have the freedom to experiment and make different projects that would be harder to do if I had to get members to record them all. 

For example, Gravendusk was created to blend Funeral Doom and Black Metal together, Kalseroth was created for my love of old school Death Metal and also Blackened Death Metal. I also have a Dark Ambient project called 'Umbrarum Tenebrae' and another project in the works right now that is too early to talk about.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of atmospheric and depressive black metal?

In all honesty, I have only sold a few dozen CD's worldwide, I don't think many people have heard of Nordicwinter. I'm still very small and underground. The few people that do understand what I'm trying to create seem to appreciate the music though. That's all I can really ask for. Music is very personal to me, I write things that I need to 'get out of my system' so to speak, I appreciated the fact that I 'sold out' the first 50 'Desolation' CD's I made. With the re-issue of my 'Desolation' CD by Hypnotic Dirge Records, hopefully more people will have access to get it and enjoy it.

9.Do you have any plans for your musical projects in 2021?

I'm looking forward to the release of the new Nordicwinter's 'Sorrow' CD by Hypnotic Dirge Records in March 2021, beside that I have a couple of other projects planned but too early to get into. 2021 will be a more calm year for Nordicwinter than what 2020 has been. I only plan to release 'Sorrow' this year with Nordicwinter.

10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Hopefully continue to grow and expand as a musician. There are still many musical avenues to explore with Nordicwinter. I plan to take a small break and look forward to seeing what new ideas I can bring to the table in the future.

11.What are you currently listening to nowadays?

A mix of different styles of music, Marduk, 1914, Abigail Williams, None, Svartdaudi, Thy Light, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Afsky, Cult Of Luna, Hooded Menace, Automb and others.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for interviewing me and stay on the lookout for more projects in the coming year.

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Nordicwinter/Desolation/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Nordicwinter  are  a  solo  project  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "Desolation"  which  will  be  released  in  2021  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  also  using  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  which  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal s creams.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording   as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  when  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  style.

  Nordicwinter  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  despair,  death,  agony  and  agony  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nordicwinter  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Forest  Of  Despair"  and  "Tomb  Of  Silence".  8  out  of  10.

Album teaser - Youtube
Stream - Bandcamp