Official release authorized by VIC Records limited 66 copies!!
Over the decades, Sear Bliss has proven to be an original, unique atmospheric black metal band, coming from Hungary, behind the misty Carpathian mountains. If you would listen through their records, you wouldn't find two records which would be the same under different title. Somehow, they managed to develop their art, record to record discovering and conquering new musical territories.
For now the band has already passed its 20th birthday, but the brilliance of their early material still bright and shining. In my view, the first two records, "Phantoms" and "The Haunting" are still their best efforts. But before these records, there was "The Pagan Winter" demo. Coming from Hungary, I have to say that this demo sounds great compared to contemporary Hungarian demo releases. Some would reckon this first effort as a clichéd, annoyingly synth-driven, untrue black metal, but I wouldn't agree. I reckon it as a raw, path-searching first effort, not without flaws, but certainly containing great potential and unique talent. First of all, the blend-marks of Sear Bliss' art is already here: 1) brasses / trumpets; 2) well-written, recognizable songs; 3) unique, melodic atmosphere.
I would love to comment on these elements. First of all, the implementation of brasses / trumpets in this kind of music is such a great idea! Somehow it gives the music a dramatic, exalted atmosphere - you would hardly find this musical element in other metal bands. Secondly, I really think that the pieces found in this demo are great songs. You can distinct them at first listen, which is - contrary to hardcore black metal fans - is NOT a bad thing. I don't see why would be so "true", if I have the feeling of listening the same cavalcade of songs for over the whole record (which is not a rare phenomenon in true black metal albums). Lastly, the atmosphere. There are two kinds of black metal bands. One is without synth, the other is with synth. Usually in the black metal scene without-synth would be reckoned as the "true" approach, however, the using-synth approach would be reckoned as "untrue", popular, melodic black metal, as if bands in this category would be second-rate, underclass bands. I kind of hate these labelings, although I cannot deny that some melodic black metal bands turn out to be so annoyingly pretentious. But it is not true regarding Sear Bliss. I would say that this is the right way to do melodic black metal with synths. Sear Bliss proves that the preconception against synth in black metal is dumb. If a black metal band uses synth, it does not always mean that they want to popularize their music - sometimes it simply means that they need that extra element in their music.
In my view, this demo is a solid start where you can find real talent under an unpolished, raw material.
Sample:
youtube.com/watch?v=K3KR9JmGWBY&list=RDK3KR9JmGWBY&start_radio=1&t=1832s
