Stodor Wilzorum ‎"Aura Des Ewigen Winters" CD

After the extremely successful debut, my expectations for Stodor Wilzorum's "second" were quite high. That's why, as soon as the new material from the Fafnir / Wened duo fell into my hands, I decided to immediately familiarize myself with what the gentlemen had to offer, to see if "Trauermystik" was not just a coincidence. Well, it wasn't. I'll say more. "Aura des ewigen Winters" is a strong step forward, in almost every respect. The basis of the band's music is still Scandinavian classics, with a distinctly Norwegian tremolo, but not as looped as before. There are definitely more changes in tempo and variety here. It sounds a bit like Stodor Wilzorum has entered a higher level of composition, without leaving its niche. The melodies flow freely here and the guitar parts complement the clear bass lines perfectly. There is also a lot going on on the drums. This is not "Transilvanian Hunger", this instrument also enriches the image of the whole, and no, it only gives rhythm. How coolly the cymbals fly here at times... This album, similarly to the cover that decorates it, is filled with coolness, simplicity and beauty at the same time. When I write about simplicity, I do not mean the quadrature of the songs, because the melodies emerging from them, as if from a thick fog, are by no means banal. I am more concerned with the idea behind these recordings, which is undeniably the cultivation of pure, untainted marriages with side genres of black metal from the beginning of the second wave. Because, apart from the instrumental pieces that entwine the main compositions, the content of "Aura des ewigen Winters" is the essence of black metal. The contribution of our local veteran of the scene cannot be overestimated either. His terrifying screams, shouts and war cries, even the clean chants, are a real masterpiece. It should be mentioned that the lyrics are sung in our language, although you can really only hear it in the clearer parts. The Pole knows perfectly well where to support the snowy musical blizzard by tearing his throat to the blood, and where to add a bit of dark majesty to the sounds. In turn, in "The Blackening Depths of Isolation", the vocal lines in their sickness and color can be associated with Mark of the Devil, so much so that I had to look at the insert to see if the information about his guest appearance was there. Without a doubt, this album would have lost a lot without Wened's contribution. I haven't said anything about the sound yet... Here too, the gentlemen did not put a foot down. Their new recordings sound suitably legible, and each of the instruments is perfectly audible, at the same time covered in frost, characteristic of early Burzum. When it comes to my requirements for black metal music, this album meets them all. Those who don't know Stodor Wilzorum should check it out as soon as possible. Those who do, I don't really need to encourage them.

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