33. Winterfylleth - 'The Reckoning Dawn'

After a brief foray into bleak folk, Manchester Black Metal heavyweights return to what they do best. From the off this is like stepping into a hurricane. The power they unleash is quite staggering. Most Black Metal has a brittle and jagged feel to it, this however is clean and majestic. The guitars rise in magnificent crescendos, crashing over the listener like tidal waves. “The Hallowing of Heirdom” might have been introspective and restrained but this is anything but. It is a massive sounding album. The production is widescreen and highly polished and the tracks feel built for stadia as opposed to small clubs. Really rather wonderful.