Music Review: Winter - Into Darkness/Eternal Frost
Published April 28, 2008
Earlier, I mentioned Type O Negative and Alice in Chains, two band that are in vastly different genres, yet feel connected to the sounds here. How can this be? Well, both bands began their rise to prominence following Winter, and both of these bands employ a sludgey sound that has been adapted and filtered through other influences. I could be completely wrong with regards to any direct influence, but I tell you, it is there. The slow, drawn out chords, the haunting, doom sound that all of them employ come across as being related, albeit mixed with other sounds. At the very least it is an interesting thought.
I find it impossible to pick a "favorite" from this collection, that is sort of like trying to pick a favorite depressing movie, it is kind of hard to do. This is definitely music that you need to be in the right mood for. It is more of a soundtrack than a proper album. Even when played in conjunction with the EP tracks, there is a certain ebb and flow that works across all of it, each song blending into the one following. Rather than playing a different song, it is more akin to glancing off a wall and heading into another direction without actually stopping to reset yourself. Although, if I had to pick a track that stood out to me, it would have to be "Servants of the Warsmen." I am not sure why, but there is something about how the vocals stand out.
The album has been remastered, and I am sure it helped but this album retains a very low-fi feel to it. Production values are low, likely do to it being produced on a small budget. Do not hold this quality against it, as I feel it actually adds to the doom and gloom feel, as it it survived the apocalypse already and is here to warn us of the dangers that lay before us.
Bottomline. Get your hands on a copy, turn out the lights, and press play. This is an album for the world to end to. Well, not really, but I am sure you get my meaning. Winter may not have had a long career, but even now, twenty years removed from their formation, they are still able to have an impact.
Highly Recommended.
Track Listing:
Into Darkness
1. Oppression Freedom/Oppression (Reprise)
2. Servants of the Warsmen
3. Goden
4. Power and Might
5. Destiny
6. Eternal Frost
7. Into Darkness
Eternal Frost
8. Servants of the Warsmen
9. Eternal Frost
10. Winter
11. Blackwhole
Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings and Draven99's Media Center. 
- Music Review: Winter - Into Darkness/Eternal Frost
- Published: April 28, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Metal
- Writer: Chris Beaumont
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Like I said... Nice Review, though I think you need to listen to some of the real heavy hitters of that time.
You should try:
Obituary - Cause of Death
Grave - Into the Grave
Candlemass - Tales of Creation
Death - Spiritual Healing
As I was saying in the other thread...With bands like these, Winter,for me,would have been overlooked. Also, when their albums came out I was getting more into Atheist,Deicide,Napalm Death,etc.. and moving away from the Doom genre.