Lee Barrett Brace yourselves, metal aficionados, for the looming onslaught of Winterfylleth’s latest opus, “The Imperious Horizon.” Set to be unleashed on September 13th, 2024, this album promises to be a towering monolith in the band’s already impressive discography. With nearly two decades of experience in crafting atmospheric black metal that pays homage to ancient folklore and early British customs, Winterfylleth stands poised to conquer new heights with their eighth studio album.
Guitarist and vocalist Chris Naughton shed light on what fans can expect from “The Imperious Horizon,” stating, “In terms of sound, the new album should please long-term fans of the band. We never look to ‘break the mould’ too much in terms of our style musically – there is very much ‘a Winterfylleth sound’ and we try to keep a sense of that in mind when creating new albums.” However, he also hinted at a few surprises, including “one track in particular is the shortest, most direct and aggressive sounding track we’ve done in some time.”
The album’s title and themes explore the idea of an impending danger lurking just beyond the horizon. Naughton elaborated, “The title itself is about the idea of there being some kind of sneering, arrogant and calculated agenda bubbling away beyond the horizon, shrouded in mist, aimed at the detriment of humanity and its personal freedoms.”
This concept has influenced the songwriting process, resulting in a slightly frostier and harsher edge to the album’s overall tone.
One of the standout tracks on “The Imperious Horizon” is “In Silent Grace,” featuring a guest vocal performance by the legendary AA Nemtheanga from Primordial. Naughton revealed, “When you hear Alan’s voice, singing the lyrics on this, I believe you will feel these things too, and understand why this collaboration was an essential addition to the album.”
The track promises to be an emotional and yearning journey that seeks solace in a world of decay and upheaval.
The album also marks the first time guitarist and backing vocalist Russell Dobson has been involved as a writing member. Naughton praised Dobson’s contributions, saying, “Having Russ come into the band has been great addition. From his first appearance at the Bloodstock festival with us just after the lockdown period in 2021 he has injected a great and renewed sense of energy into the band.”
To craft the desired sound for “The Imperious Horizon,” Winterfylleth once again collaborated with producer Chris Fielding and mastering engineer Mark Mynett. Naughton described the challenges faced during the mixing process due to the expanded sonic tapestry, which included a greater keyboard presence throughout. However, he expressed satisfaction with the final result, stating, “We feel he’s helped us take all of these elements and present them in the most impactful way possible.”
The album’s striking artwork, featuring a snow-capped mountain called Seceda in the Dolomites range, visually represents the album’s themes. Naughton explained, “It very much captures some of the frostier / icy tones of the music, but also displays a striking, mist shrouded peak and horizon…. Those features tie into this idea of there being ‘something at play’, behind the mist.”
Fans can look forward to a variety of formats for “The Imperious Horizon,” including a deluxe edition with bonus tracks. One of these bonus tracks is a cover of Emperor’s “The Majesty of the Night Sky,” which Naughton described as “a pretty faithful rendition that tries to keep the old school feeling of the original alive and well.”
Despite the impressive chart positions reached by their previous album, “The Reckoning Dawn,” Winterfylleth feels no pressure to match or surpass that success. Naughton stated, “As long as this album reaches the people who want to hear it and it affects them in some way – then that is the prime objective. Numbers on a table shouldn’t mean anything with this music.”
Reflecting on the band’s evolution over nearly two decades, Naughton noted, “I think with us it’s been a steady evolution. We’re not a band to go out on a limb and drastically flip the musical style on its head (maybe with the exception of the acoustic album) – so any progressions have been more in how we have managed to hone our songwriting, strive for greater emotional heights etc.”
While “The Imperious Horizon” primarily focuses on Winterfylleth’s signature black metal sound, there is one track, “Earthen Sorrows,” that revisits the acoustic folk style explored on their 2018 album, “The Hallowing of Heirdom.” Naughton teased, “Interestingly this is the first time an acoustic track acts as a reprise to one of the previous metal tracks – but I shan’t spoil the surprise and leave for the listener to decipher.”
Lyrically, “The Imperious Horizon” draws from various literary and historical influences, including pastoral poetry by individuals like Alexander Brome and Edmund Spenser. Naughton explained, “It is nice to use metaphor at points to put across the lyrical ideas in a stylish and relatable way, as these concepts are more universally understood.”
As a band that has navigated the controversial associations often linked to black metal, Winterfylleth remains focused on their artistic vision. Naughton asserted, “If you have strong and interesting ideas that are communicated well – and in a way that is considered – then you have no need to worry about anything. Nor should you really care deeply about what others have to say about you anyway.”
With the release of “The Imperious Horizon” on the horizon, Winterfylleth has exciting plans for the future, including a UK tour towards the end of 2024 and a European tour in the spring of 2025. Naughton concluded, “As long as we still feel this music and connect on a deeper level with the emotions it stirs within us, then we will continue…. The goal of out-doing your previous album should never be lost.”
