Track Listing:
- Nornensang
- Schicksalsmacht
- Wolfchant (A Wolf To Man)
- Das Bollwerk
- Bloodwinter
- Heritage Of Fire
- Sehnsucht
- Prelude To Revenge
- Anthems Of Revenge
- Am Schlachtfeld
- New Born Killer
‘Bloodwinter’ is Wolfchant’s redemption for
(what I thought) was a weak offering on 2013’s ‘Embraced By Fire’. This album
contains more of the old, familiar elements expected from Wolfchant. With a
solid back-catalogue of albums, this German folk-metal band seems to have
re-visited their roots with ‘Bloodwinter’. In comparison to their first few
releases, the production is certainly more polished but this doesn’t detract
from the overall sound as it sometimes can. This album feels effortless, with
each element fitting together without overreaching.
The vocals really carry Wolfchant forward on
‘Bloodwinter’. Employing a mix of soaring clean vocals and harsh vocals in the
right places, backed by galloping melodies, Wolfchant has succeeded in creating
an album with an epic folk metal feel. The lyrics are a mixture of German and
English, allowing accessibility for some and variety for others. “Wolfchant (A Wolf To Man)” and “Bloodwinter”
provide catchy choruses, easy to want to shout along to. In fact, the title track
is one of the best of the album. With melodic keyboards, lofty vocals and
subtle changes of pace, it would prove difficult not to like this song. Tracks
like “Das Bollwerk” slow the pace without detracting from the energetic tempo
of the album.
From start to finish, ‘Bloodwinter’ is a
candid offering of folk metal. Overall, it’s a very symphonic album, without
travelling into the realm of power metal (which is something that I personally
didn’t appreciate with ‘Embraced By Fire’). It’s a tidy amalgamation of many of
the components that make Wolfchant worth listening to and is a solid album to
add to the collection of anyone who enjoys symphonic-tinged folk metal.
Best Tracks: Wolfchant (A Wolf To Man),
Bloodwinter, Sehnsucht, New Born Killer
