Review: Winterblut “Seid furchtbar und zerstöret Euch”

Winterblut Seid furchtbar und zerstöret Euch
Nihilistische KlangKunst

I’ve listened to a lot of Black Metal in my time and I mean a lot. For twenty eight years I’ve tracked down bands, collected albums and seen so many live shows you wouldn’t believe me if I went into it. It’s not that often that I come across something I could term as so different that it makes a genuinely fresh mark on the scene. Once in a black moon in fact…

L’Hiver has in the past, contributed his talents to the likes of NAGAROTH, SLAUGHTER COMMAND and WOLFTHORN. He’s also pursued his own WINTEBLUT solo project for quite some time. It is not wrong of me to say that his solo music simply drips with difference.

2018 sees the release of WINTERBLUT’s ninth album – Seid furchtbar und zerstöret Euch! published by the Nihilistische KlangKunst label in Germany. 10 tracks at 52 minutes and available since June 6^th on C.D. and digital download via Bandcamp.

Here we go, yet another WINTERBLUT release that shows no sign of conforming. L’Hiver is, simply put, in a world of his own. The album starts with a gentle, feedback groan that morphs into untimely chugs and twangs of the guitar, jangly, raw and dissonant. Add to it a breathing sigh like a beast in the background, waiting. Within a minute I’m bobbing my head not to and head banging riff but a slurring groove that’s so upset I don’t know what’s going on. Like a sickly intro that plays with your nerves. The music builds and fades, rhythm, groove and passion are most certainly present but not like I’ve heard it before – it’s so close to being unhinged, Seid furchtbar und zerstöret Euch! is scary.

Now, I’m not going into detail like I usually do, per track. Why? That’s because L’Hiver has chosen, very wisely in my opinion to keep us on edge, waiting. Waiting, waiting… All tracks keep you waiting. They build slightly, fall away, pulse and fall away. Bleak, slow and unsettling. Jangling guitars never far away. Drums, only in the mix sometimes… Extremely simple, extremely good. What are we waiting for? That’s surely the idea behind this album and only you will find that out. I see it as a type of reflection.

This is by no means music for the mosh pit – Seid furchtbar und zerstöret Euch! is surely music as ritual. Time to turn off the lights, burn the black candles and stare into that album cover. The album artwork really sums up the music within, I have rarely seen artwork so close to what I visualize whilst listening. A smear of black and white that will have you guessing what you’re looking at just like a Rorschach test.

Not everyone will get this, or like it – it’s such a personal thing but I have no apprehension in giving Seid furchtbar und zerstöret Euch! full marks. Try it if you dare!