The Endless Winter
Frosthelm
•
March 22, 2015

With the European scene dominating the Black Metal genre, it's always refreshing to come across solid bands from other corners of the globe. And just one such band is the American Black/Thrash Metal outfit FROSTHELM. Formed in 2009, this week sees the release of their debut full-length album "The Endless Winter". After the well-received demo "The Northwinds Rend Flesh" in 2012, many were left wondering what was to come next. The answer is a riveting and relentless barrage that goes straight for the jugular.
Fading in on a beautiful guitar melody, the listener is lulled into a peaceful state of serenity, only to be smashed by a sudden brutal assault. The music is fast, tumultuous, and dark, hitting you like a biting blizzard of icy shards that cut straight to the bone. The Thrashier parts lend the music an aggressive and antagonistic feel, whilst the darker Black Metal influences add sepulchre and threatening atmospheres to the songs. The vocals are really well done, sliding from gravely growls to searing screeches with seemingly effortless ease, providing a perfect complement to the other instruments. This is not to say that the instrumentation takes the back-seat; far from it. Guitar solos like the one seen in "Forlorn Tides", the tightness of the drumming throughout drives home the skill of the musicians involved.
With a total run-time of just over half an hour, "The Endless Winter" is a comparatively short release which is epitomised by an interesting amalgamation of Black Metal and Thrash Metal, with first one genre being more prominent in the music then the other. However, on the whole, it seems that the later half of the album, in particular, is very heavily influenced by Blacker elements. Indeed, there are sections, on songs such as "Silent and Dark, the Everlasting", that wouldn't be out of place on a DARK FUNERAL release. The recording quality is fairly low, but whilst this may be a minus for some, for others it's an integral part of the Black Metal genre. I particularly liked that the final track ends with the same placid guitar melody as the intro track; this give the listener a sense of coming full circle, and completes the album nicely.
Overall, "The Endless Winter" is a good release, but considering that this is just the debut album, it is nothing short of a mouth-watering morsel that makes you crave more. I for one, will be keeping a close eye on this band, as they undoubtedly rise to great things.
9 / 10
Almost Perfect

"The Endless Winter" Track-listing:
1. Glacial Eon
2. Storm of Teeth
3. Forlorn Tides
4. Tomb of Sordid Ruin
5. Beneath Dead Horizons
6. Endless Winter
7. Hell Between Us
8. The Dragon
9. Silent and Dark, The Everlasting
Frosthelm Lineup:
Dakota - Guitar
Brian - Drums
Tyler - Vocals
Jim - Bass
More results...