With so many albums released last year, one of albums that I had somehow missed came from the Hungarian black metal entity known as Frost. “Winterblood”, which is the band’s fifth album, is a remarkable output. Not because of the cold frosty atmosphere but because of the compelling quality of the melodies. The band was formed in 1996 and this makes them among the lesser-known acts from the second wave era of black metal. Despite the fact that my knowledge regarding Hungarian bands is very scarce there are a few that I can think of like Sear Bliss, Forest Silence, and Bornholm that are considered the mainstays of this scene. Frost on its newest album captures the whole gist of atmospheric black metal. The songs are mainly balanced on a mid-tempo leash, the guitars move dramatically with the drum pacing exuding rich melodies.  

The opening track “In Me” begins with a beautiful lead guitar section and harsh black metal vocals. “Winterblood” offers a grim and dark experience with the eerie synth cascading over the blasting drums, Frost mainly draws the sorrowful tunes into the mid-tempo sections. “One With the Eternal Darkness” blends melody and atmosphere in such a beautiful way, the excellent arrangements of the rhythm guitar show the quality of the band, whereas the guitars set a melancholy mood throughout the album. Given how the sound quality is polished, Frost’s music centers on epic melodies. There is a monumental scale for the guitars to outshine the songwriting talent, each track on the album has a distinctive riff that provides an atmospheric pattern.

“Against False Saints” is among my favorite tracks. The lead guitars and the rapturous vocals sweep with the keyboard’s texture creating an expansive landscape. The subtle use of the synth produces breathtaking moments while the drums excel mainly in the up-tempo sections. The songs are varied, Frost gives a fine example of diversity and this is why the instrumentation fits perfectly with the overall tone. “Darkness in Crimson Majesty” reveals the technical prowess of the guitars, with the melodies projecting a unique blend of haunting rhythm. “Winterblood” transports you to the heart of the second wave of black metal. There is a fair amount of up-tempo sections that are played fast, though some of the songs on the album are succinct, every minute of this epic album is meticulously measured. As much as the guitars and the vocals play a role in creating the dramatic shifts the drums hold undeniable weight bringing the right pacing to the music.

“The Night” is another track that combines an emotional range of the guitar melodies. Through the simplicity of the song structure, they are quite memorable and catchy. The rhythm guitar is deep and captures the somber quality, hence “Winterblood” will mostly like appeal to fans of Forest Silence, early Old Man’s Child, and Alghazanth. The thickness of the frosty dual guitar builds layers of sharp riffs. The Hungarian quintet was able to pull the best elements of atmospheric and melodic black metal. Frost encapsulates the melancholic aspects with tracks such as “Winter (To Die in the Mountains of Bükk)”, which offers a sorrowful bleakness with the ravenous vocals and pounding drums, the driven riffs enhance the song. The guitar solo midway through the track provides an instant hook, catchy guitar with chords evoke the feeling of gloominess.

Despite the solid aggression, “Winterblood” is highlighted by the veil of the melancholic aura. Another feature of the album is that most of the songs have various riffing styles. The drumming on the album is absolutely powerful and provides enough dose of double bass. Frost displays the art of the nineties black metal and defines its trademark sound through the rhythmic changes. The cold and aggressive delivery of the guitars on “Forbidden Light” combines intense tremolo riffing with the fierce vocal delivery and the thundering double bass is superbly layered. “Without Chains” begins with a compelling lead guitar section bringing to it the melodic supremacy and the traditional trademark of black metal. 

“Winterblood” also features one bonus track from their first album “Extreme Loneliness – Fragments” and two additional songs that previously appeared on the band’s 2020 single “The Way of Condemnation”. Frost’s fifth album is a powerful melodic black metal album that emphasizes many tempo changes but more importantly, it shows the creativity and talent of this Hungarian quintet.  

Release Date: December 20th, 2021
Label: Metal Ör Die Records
Tracklist:

1. In Me
2. One with the Eternal Darkness
3. Against False Saints
4. Darkness in Crimson Majesty
5. The Night
6. Winter (To Die in the Mountains of Bükk)
7. Forbidden Light
8. Without Chains
9. Unholy Land (piano Version)
10. The Way
11. Condemnation