“Eternal I am, yet each tread
On these desolate soils
And through these banks of rearing sedge
Enervate me ever further
The ghostly breath of winter enshrouds
Reaper – Harvester
Scourer of essence
The inevitable embrace whispers from an endpoint yet to be…”
For many years now I have been an avid fan and follower of the British black metal act Fen. Since hearing “The Malediction Fields” I have been hooked into their dark, beautiful, poetic world of suffering and loss. Earlier this March they came out with their newest opus “Winter” which in my humble opinion is their best album to date. Fen evokes worlds of darkness, light and what lies in-between in every album they have written. “Winter” takes everything they crafted and learned from in their older discography and have created a mammoth 75 minute long album. At first this seems intimidating as a listener but once you really dive into the album and take in all the sounds, images and lyrics it creates a near perfect black metal album. “Winter” is full of dark, oppressive atmosphere and intentionally makes you question everything about mortality and the afterlife (if such a thing exists).
“And so with each heavy, broken-backed step I inch closer to my reckoning
Sinews stiff, sloughing, sagging
Resonating with slow decay like catgut strings
Draped across a stave of rotting timber…”
Though there is nothing accurate to compare the meandering, introspective music Fen takes with “Winter” the closest comparison would be the incredibly challenging but fantastic album “The Mantle” by Agalloch. The epic scope found in both these albums actually makes you think and remain attentive because nuances continue to creep up to make the music even better. “Winter” in particular has this mysterious nature that wisps in and out of the music, there are moments of aggression, to moments of quiet to eventual moments of clarity in mind/spirit. The journey The Watcher takes you on with his guitar and vocals is something to experience in the darkness and quiet of the night. The foundation Grungyn and Derwydd create with bass and drums is just exceptional. The bass in particular stands out with leads and time changes that makes the experience of “Winter” even more emotional, yet grounded. The dual vocals throughout the album give the songs an extra punch of anger/sadness which makes the music all the more powerful and moving to experience.
“I must move on
I must haul this weary patchwork of cursive limbs
Through a translucent mire
Endless, oppressive wake
Each tread summons the efforts of a thousand scouring exhalations
Inch by inch, step by step, slowing, stooping
Until – like a puppet with strings severed by the scythe of embitterment
A figure collapses…”
I truly feel like I am the protagonist in the concept of “Winter” the pain, agony, and disillusion the man/woman feels is real and the journey he/she takes leads to something beyond the desolation of the fens. There is always a pinpoint of light that brings closure as symbolized by the omniscient stone of the ancient cathedral found in the album artwork.That state of mind and memory in anyone’s life that was of sadness and anger is personified by the seemingly endless journey of the cloaked figure trying to find peace. The images are unheralded in the sonic catharsis of “Winter” it is a trying and exhaustive journey of self to eventual finality. The album will take weeks maybe even months of listening to really get an idea of what Fen is trying to accomplish, this album is not a casual listen in the car to the mall. As a listener you need the time and patience to not only follow the music but the lyrics which is one of the main highlights of the album. The imagery and poetry The Watcher pens is amazing and really makes the songs even better to hear. With such images in mind the music of “Winter” becomes all the more personal. To me the key to an amazing album is how it seemingly gives a strong personal connection to the listener. This is not manufactured garbage this as true to art as one can experience. Fen has crafted an album for the ages and has set the bar for future black metal albums of 2017.
“I didn’t think such a quiet was possible
That the relentless roil of rage and despair thrumming like lava through me
Could be extinguished
And given over to a plateau of calm stillness…”
Rating: 10/10
*All lyrics by The Watcher*
Bandcamp: https://fenuk.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fenofficial
