WINTARNAHT – Hriuwa
- Posted on 03-02-2021
The German entity that is Wintarnaht, which is essentially a one-man project by founding member Grimwald, performs relatively fast-paced black metal with a cold vibe and a harsh feel to it. The record’s wintry atmosphere is appealing and there are quite a few solid riffs and melodies present on the disc, but the whole thing is generally a tad predictable and generic, and it just feels a little too familiar and traditional-sounding somehow to truly make an impact or stand out.
In other words, one cannot help but feel that one has already heard it a thousand times before due to it being musically derivative to a certain extent. The output is raw and embodies many of the lo-fi underground aesthetics that many undoubtedly associate with pagan black metal, but in terms of quality this nine-track offering will neither set the world on fire nor transport you to an otherworldly realm. Having said that, there is one thing that is pretty unique and that has to do with the lyrics in that they are written in Old High German, which is cool as fuck and adds a sense of authenticity and originality to that aspect of "Hriuwa".
"Hriuwa" does possess its fair share of brooding passages and bleak moods, and occasionally it comes across as epic, but in the overall perspective it is a mediocre album.