Year: 2026
Label: Hell is Here Production
Rating: 8 / 10
The other day, I accidentally came across a fresh record from a new project featuring the indefatigable Wened (ex-VENEDAE, ex-BLOOD STRONGHOLD, etc.) and three Italians, one of whom is actually a Venezuelan. Like all regular white people, I'm a sucker for winter melancholy, so I decided to listen to this album... and I got more than I hoped for. I was expercting another frostbitten "Filosofem" clone, but suddenly I heard very good metal in the vein of the great FORGOTTEN WOODS!
This is not immediately understood, although the album begins with a riff ripped off ”Overmotets s pris". But already in the third minute of the first track, characteristic techniques and structures appear, and the start of the second track with a very familiar guitar sound finally destroys all doubts. It's definitely FORGOTTEN WOODS worship, and, best of all, WINTERSCARS based it on the best album of the Norwegians: ”The Curse of Mankind". The rhythm, the feeling, it's almost the same. There are even direct quotes. Except that the sound is a little more modern, and Wened sings in Polish. One thing is pity, thpugh: while the drummer is certainly capable, the bassist and guitarist are not as skilled as the musicians of FORGOTTEN WOODS. Therefore, "The Wintervoid Quintessence" lacks the progressive rock eccentricity, the artistry of late FW. It's a full metal album, although it's very diverse. The band didn't hesitate to write 4 long songs averaging 8.5 minutes each and fill them with beautiful riffs. Yes, once again, I would like to emphasize that the influence of FORGOTTEN WOODS is very strong here, and here I probably should grumble about unoriginality and “cover bands”. But I'll tell you that the heirs of FORGOTTEN WOODS are extremely rare on metal scene, and I'd rather listen to such sincere worship than another quasi-original band playing absolutely faceless material based on a billion times expired chords from the basic set of Black Metal chords. My recommendations!
