AN EXCELLENT NEW BLACK METAL RECORD: WINDFAERER’S SOLAR

It’s been quite a long time (in metal terms — which means, like, two years) since I’ve really enjoyed a new black metal band. After the glut of great new black metal bands that broke between 2007 and 2010 (Nachtmystium, Krallice, Keep of Kalessin, Wolves in the Throne Room, etc, etc) the genre kind of stagnated, copycats ensued, everything got all same-y sounding and I lost interest.

Windfaerer’s new album Solar, streaming right now at Stereokiller, changes all that: it made me stop and take notice right away. It’s different; the music has positive sonic overtones despite plenty of darkness and bleakness, and some of the harmonic choices aren’t standard at all for black metal. The production is really interesting, too; it’s big and airy with chunky guitars and a broad dynamic range, but it still somehow manages to sound fairly raw. Together, it all makes for an incredible unique and intriguing package.

Solar is out now. Stream it here and order it here for just 5 bones.

-VN