Vintersea – Woven Into Ashes
Release Date: 5th May 2023
Label: M-Theory Audio
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal.
FFO: Akaivel, Infected Rain, Ignea, Synlakross, Rage of Light.
Review By: Mark Waight
Vintersea are a talented young band hailing from the USA with a more than bright future ahead of them as they currently set out on a tour across the states with three big hitters Moonspell, Eleine and Oceans of Slumber. This will serve to introduce Vintersea’s own brand of Blackened Progressive Metal to a much wider audience and is sure to build up their following.
Woven into Ashes is Vintersea’s third and biggest release to date following 2017’s The Gravity of Fall and 2019’s Illuminated and loudly illustrates a band whose star is very much ascending.
Vintersea is Avienne (vocals), Riley Nix (guitar), Jorma Spaziano (guitar), Karl Whinnery (bass) and Jeremy Spencer (drums).
Unveiling Light is as black as night in parts, integrated with lighter intervals likened to the dawning of a new day. This creates a wonderful gloomy then much brighter atmosphere as we are introduced to Avienne’s super ability to switch between clean and brutal vocals.
Threads of darkness run deeply through Devil’s Churn as the heavy bass leads us into the pits of hell until we are rescued by something lovely and haunting before once again being thrown into the deep abyss! Crescent Eclipse is another beautifully contrasting song where the fight between light and darkness, good and evil, clean and brutal comes once again to the forefront again by means of an absolutely banging tune. The guitar playing is sublime and to an epic standard that is sure to have you grinning from ear to ear!
At the Gloaming Void perfectly depicts a doom filled chasm in your mind’s eye as it slowly drags you into a deep pit of despair before you are almost rescued by angelic vocals and a super crisp guitar solo before once again being left to your fate.
There is a quality to the depth and sound of Parallel Duality which highlights the softer edge to Vintersea without ever drifting too far away from the blackness and brutality theme to the album. Lonesome Tide introduces some choral harmonies to the mix, along with some sweet-sounding acoustic passages and folk instruments too. They are blended and fused perfectly together with some ultra deft guitar work.
Into the Horizon is a super tight band melody with a chilled-out touch of class about it. By following a dark and stormy night, it is a fluffy cloud on a bright sunny day. Enjoy the brief respite whilst you can!
There is a gothic choir air about the start to No Tomorrow, before the darkness looms large once more, spreading its black wings and rot to the whole world again. Glorious, gloomy and superb, my favourite track!
Woven Into Ashes by Vintersea is a defining moment for the band in my humble opinion. They have proudly lifted their heads above the parapet to give us something that is not only unique, but will stand out from the rest of the genre, hopefully propelling them forwards to bigger and better things.
Musically, Woven into Ashes has something for everyone and there is nothing not to like. I particularly enjoyed the final gothic style track and hope that this is an avenue that Vintersea will explore further in the future. Woven Into Ashes by Vintersea is a highly recommended addition to any Metal heads playlist! Give it a spin!
(4 / 5)
