Immortal - At the Heart of Winter
Original Version Box Version LP Version 1. Withstand The Fall Of Time 8:30 1. Withstand The Fall Of Time 8:30 1. Withstand The Fall Of Time 8:30 2. Solarfall 6:02 2. Solarfall 6:02 2. Solarfall 6:02 3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon 8:56 3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon 8:56 3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon 8:56 4. Where Dark And Light Don't Differ 6:45 4. Where Dark And Light Don't Differ 6:45 4. Where Dark And Light Don't Differ 6:45 5. At The Heart Of Winter 8:00 5. At The Heart Of Winter 8:00 5. At The Heart Of Winter 8:00 6. Years Of Silent Sorrow 7:54 6. Years Of Silent Sorrow 7:54 6. Years Of Silent Sorrow 7:54 total time 46:07 total time 46:07 total time 46:07 Picture LP 1 Version Picture LP 2 Version Promo Version 1. Withstand The Fall Of Time 8:30 1. Withstand The Fall Of Time 8:30 1. Withstand The Fall Of Time 8:30 2. Solarfall 6:02 2. Solarfall 6:02 2. Solarfall 6:02 3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon 8:56 3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon 8:56 3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon 8:56 4. Where Dark And Light Don't Differ 6:45 4. Where Dark And Light Don't Differ 6:45 4. Where Dark And Light Don't Differ 6:45 5. At The Heart Of Winter 8:00 5. At The Heart Of Winter 8:00 5. At The Heart Of Winter 8:00 6. Years Of Silent Sorrow 7:54 6. Years Of Silent Sorrow 7:54 6. Years Of Silent Sorrow 7:54 total time 46:07 total time 46:07 total time 46:07
Withstand The Fall Of Time (Music: Abbath - Lyrics: Demonaz) Darker and darker skylines of red grew my horizon on the egdes of my vision a giant grimfaced realm... Flaming suns crested the horizon shadows born a cloudless day believers of the rise and set of the moon darkened twilight into night... Hardening claws of cold tell me we are closer to colder times through the days of bitterness still the thundra lay untouched In the final of that day and all centuries after in eternity and time the same still the thundra lay untouched Blacker and blacker blinded by shades from centuries behind shadows of a dark that used to be under heavy winters reign... The blackening sky never end as we stand the fall of time yet winds of cold will always blow without tomorrow... Hardening claws of cold tell me we are closer to colder times through the days of bitterness still the thundra lay untouched In the final of that day and all centuries after in eternity and time the same still the thundra lay untouched Solarfall (Music: Abbath - Lyrics: Demonaz) Believe the sea high waves upon our coming storm hear the roaring tide as we name a dawn See the ice in which we craft our souls earth's frozen cries the dark benight your kind Monstrously the seas rage afar as if to hide from that which nears skyward from the seasalt air our vision knew a giant fall See the ice in which we craft our souls life's frozen cries the dark benight your kind A place of utterness beyond the wilderness through a darkened terrain that fades in emptiness... Walkers of the dust survivors of the blast slowly they move but far behind all time into the solar fall... Believe the sea high waves upon our coming storm hear the roaring tide as we name a dawn Monstrously the seas rage afar as if to hide from what which nears skyward from the seasalt air our vision knew a giant fall See the ice in which we craft our souls all frozen cries the dark benight your kind The last sunset flame dust of ice drifts the earth lightning plays in depths of no rebirth... Tragedies Blows At Horizon (Music: Abbath - Lyrics: Demonaz) A black day dawn at horizon where winter hearts our battlefields the ultimate frostage desire snowflurry drifts these plains Since the blast of primaries we've conquered against the storm throning with will and the sound of battle never ends... Tragedies blows at horizon : we ride as one our battle rages on... Tragedies blows at horizon : we die as one our battle rages on... Thundering coloums of fire majestic against the breeze Gleaming my scepter at hand the wind altogether silent Frozen of heart awaken from a time and risen by the dying breeze and the sound of battle never ends... Tragedies blows at horizon : we ride as one our battle rages on... Tragedies blows at horizon : we die as one our battle rages on... Where Dark And Light Don't Differ (Music: Abbath - Lyrics: Demonaz) Barbaric tempered steel strike forth and toll our days the red and black of our victorian crest We flag beneath... beneath the solar seas we grant as the might to conquer so spread be our wrath... Meet the voice of us darkblind souls as it blasts from an open sky victorious we live over all strong men under us fall The longer we ride this yearn will make us find where dark and light don't differ... Winterized... blackening descend Mesmerized... into demonlands Far... far and further away in mightful strong and mindless realms We flag beneath... beneath the solar seas again it's time to conquer so spread be our wrath... Where dark and light don't differ... Winterized... blackening ascend Mesmerized... in demons lands The longer we ride the stronger we stride... At The Heart Of Winter (Music: Abbath - Lyrics: Demonaz) Greatest Blashyrkh wait for me your deepest realms i'll find with songs that sound eternally for you my call is ever so strong... Winterlandscapes pure and clear a walk into the glacial valleys deep under forests alive only my torches fire light... Greatest Blashyrkh waiting me your realms ever splended songs were made eternally the call is ever so strong... Blashyrkh mighty be your name victorious a kingdom we made with strength and pride all the way you are at the heart of winter As the face of glacier your mountains tower against the sunset unforgetting what was made a bond so strong and ever so real... The statue watches the kingdom your giant wings make all beneath i'm staring forth the raventhrone I know i'm at the heart of winter... Years Of Silent Sorrow (Music: Abbath - Lyrics: Demonaz) Farewell... lengthening pain inside me Harnessbells... I hear them calling me A demon... watch my walk in snow Remain... my years of silent sorrow Dome in the sky black winds to taste shadowed spirits lead my way... Drifting everly alone years of silent sorrow until I'm home... Bitterness with bitterness you bitter me... Emptiness with emptiness you empty me... Darkness with darkness you darkened me this journey black before me... Farewell... nothing breathes within me Harnessbells... sounding cold behind me A demon... with frozen eyes opened this journey black behind me... Dome in the sky black winds to taste shadowed spirits lead my way... Drifting everly alone years of silent sorrow until I'm home... =u=s=e=f=u=l=i=n=f=o=r=m=a=t=i=o=n= Release date: March 15 1999 (Europe) Label: Osmose Productions Recorded at: Studio Abyss (Nov. -98) Produced by: Peter Tagtgren Cover artwork by: Fournier J.P. Line-up: Abbath - Bass, Vocals, Guitar Horgh - Drums =r=e=v=i=e=w=s= 1) Nightshade Magazine IMMORTAL - "At the Heart of Winter" Let us be clear from the beginning. If you wish to receive your daily dose of ultra-brutal-Nordic-fast-Black Metal with a cave-like cheap production, then turn the page and go back to your worshipped DARKTHRONE opus A Blaze in the Northern Sky, for you will find nothing here but a clear-sounding (and damn well produced !!!) picture of what Metal is all about in its most technical and modern form. IMMORTAL's fifth child At the Heart of Winter is indeed destined to be a milestone in the band's discography, and to a large extent it should throw a refreshing cluster bomb in the swamp of so-called extreme releases mainly showing their extreme musical poverty (and, please, don't ask me for names . . .). Well, well . . . what shall I begin with ? First I can depict this album as being both a flashback to the very beginning of IMMORTAL's career and a tremendous progression towards a brand new style. Why this paradoxal duality ? Simply because in spite of the evident musical evolution, some elements are reminiscent of what IMMORTAL used to perform some years ago. The lyrics are indeed written in a much more simple and direct way than on Blizzard Beasts for instance, and some background ambiances call to mind that the band wishes to retrieve its symbolic cold feeling, previously drowned in the brutality of death-metal-like rythmics. On this record, Demonaz no longer scratches the strings, since his arm infection prevents him from playing as fast as before. Nevertheless he is still writing the lyrics and his talented spiritual touch hasn't left the band at all. Peter Tägtgren is behind the perfect mix of the album, which will make your Hi-Fi vibrate even if you don't push it to its full potential. Musically speaking, they have reached the ultimate compromise between all kinds of Metal without forgetting their roots. The heavy riffs remain quite basic, but smash the brain in such a way that their efficiency is not to be discussed. For example the two first songs Withstand the Fall of Time and Solarfall (God, what a masterpiece this one...) contain both a core melodic theme delivered with the ill-tempered rage of power-metal, and they will be carved in your head from the first listening. At given times in the songs the neck is given a rest thanks to simply beautiful accoustic breaks, before another wave of rages overflows the last minutes. The use of keyboards is restricted to the sole goal of creating haunting intros to the tracks. Abbath's voice is still sharp as a razor, and Horgh's drumming style cannot be blamed, especially since he is able to turn to a war-machine when the Black Metal-influences regain the upper hand, like in Years of silent Sorrow. The album comprises only six songs, but is almost 50:00 long, so I let you imagine the mammoth compositions the guys have cooked for us. I know that the hard core of IMMORTAL fans will feel somehow frustrated by the importance of the change, but I think sincerely that you just need to open your ears wide to realize that the band has unleashed one of the finest jewels of these latest years. If I had to compare this evolution to EMPEROR's one on IX Equilibrium . . . OK, let's avoid the polemic. If this is what the heart of winter really sounds like, then may the icy age arise, RIGHT NOW !!! Label: Osmose Productions Ordering Number: OPCD-079 Rating: 10 out of 10 Review by: Bertrand Garnier 2) AT THE HEART OF WINTER - IMMORTAL Black metal: a most prolific genre...prolific, yet it could be argued that rarely have we been blessed with the two biggest black metal releases back to back. Emperor released their IX Equilibrium a short time ago. And then, a few days later, we are presented with the new Immortal LP, their fifth, entitled "At The Heart Of Winter". At the top of this review, I must make a confession. Up until this release, I have never been the all-worshipping fan of this band. Quite frankly, I found Immortal's last effort "Blizzard Beast" to be a clear representation of a band treading water and a somewhat disappointing follow up to the aural violence of Battles Of The North and Pure Holocaust. Having released four albums prior to this, it certainly indicates Immortal's longevity in the saturated genre that is black metal. But for Immortal to remain one of the leaders of the scene something special had to happen with this new album, otherwise, I feel a few may have been preparing the bands obituary...ok, ok it's not quite that desperate, but you see my point. The great news is, is that like all leaders of a certain style, Immortal have been able to assess their past achievements and develop their sound accordingly - with "At The Heart Of Winter", Immortal have delivered a stunning piece of work. "ATHOW" is in my opinion, Immortal's finest piece of work to date - a truly inspired piece of black tinged genius. Opposed to Blizzard Beasts, Immortal has opted not to play safe with this new one - there are changes, but ultimately it is a return to form for the band. Not only is this a different record but it is Immortals most prolific in terms of musical style and feeling. Containing only six tracks (and what awesome tracks they are), and clocking in at 46 minutes - each track has it's own identity and are definitely some of the longest they have penned so far giving the album a very epic feeling. "ATHOW" is a more brutal guitar oriented album also. There are riffs going off all over the place. There is also a definite nod in the direction of the glory days of metal, with Immortal capturing the very essence or spirit of those days. No doubt, that this still sounds like Immortal however the feeling that encapsulates the epic Bathory and Destruction days is very prominent indeed. Ultimately this is Immortal moving forward yet not forgetting the essence of the past. Also, the fact that Abbath is now on guitar for good it seems, the riff work has been increased and the pace tempered. Essentially, this makes the Immortal sound even more crushing and powerful than in the past. ATHOW as a result becomes more engaging; it has more punch and ultimately, more impact. For those who longed for non-stop blast beats...well, Immortal have moved on. Four albums of cold, harsh grim hyperspeed black metal are enough. One other reason for Immortal's new found intensity is in the production. Captured brilliantly at Abyss studios with Peter Tagtgren, "ATHOW" is brutal. Not only has Tagtgren got the best out of Immortal, he has actually been able to deliver the sound Immortal wanted rather that the regular Abyss studio production. Whilst the Abyss sound is excellent, it could have gone against Immortal if they released "ATHOW" with such a well known sound. It would have had less identity (something that the latest Enslaved LP suffered from). "ATHOW" is Immortals finest and strongest release yet - breathing fire (or is that ice?) back into themselves and the scene, and along with Emperor have definitely laid down the blueprint by which every other black metal release will be measured by this year. Rating (9/10) Reviewed by: The K-Man (presenter/host "Another Worldly Device" radio in Australia) 3) AT THE HEART OF WINTER - IMMORTAL It would be useless to you to provide an analysis for the reasons that have made Immortal my absolute fave band in the world of black metal music. Besides, the limited space that is provided for the record reviews doesn't allow such luxurities and I don't think that you would stand reading any waffle from my side. Nevertheless, though, I can't help it saying that I feel excited that I have the chance to review this album now. This album that, till the time that it finally came to my possession and had it dissected in my stereo, had caused me seeing nightmares, due to the fact that there was a number of evidence that made me worried if Immortal would continue to be a part of the elite part of the black metal scene. The numerous death metal influences that, without any doubts, "Blizzard Beasts" carried, inherited from their tour with Morbid Angel, but also some more fresh evidence, like their new logo or the drawn cover that "At the heart of Winter" has ( I still remember numerous interviews where Immortal were saying that drawn covers are of no meaning to them), were not helping to create the best climate. The first couple of times that I 've listened to the album were really strained, as a result of all that presure that I was feeling but the thing that I realised almost immediately was that the Norvegian holocaust metallers - the term that they use to describe their music themselves - haven't sacrificed their most essential characteristic: The blizzards that they have for songs, the frostbitten assaults that they launch to our hearts for so many years now, the pride. Many of you may have believed that the band's intention to feature long songs on this new album by dropping the 3min blasts of the past, would have us dealing with a bunch of songs that would hardly had any major differences from the structure of the hit song "Blashyrkh(Mighty Ravendark). Fortunately enough, this is also not the case here. And neither "Blashyrkh" was the first slow-paced tune that Immortal attempted to compose...does the title "A perfect vision of the rising Northland" bring anything to mind? "And where is the so familiar Immortal speed element?", guessing your next question here. Naturally, it is also present and it puts the final touch to an album that presents the Norvegians with a fresh face but so traditional at the same time. I don't want to keep on talking because it is certain that I will get carried away..the thing that I have to write as an epilogue to this review though can be only this... all hail to the masters of Nebular Frost! .9/10 Nick Anastopoulos Lyrics in plain text format