Review: “Underwater Darkness” by Winternius

After rising to prominence with 2020’s “Open The Portal“, 2023 EP “Kultra Nightmares” saw the introduction of a new rhythm section for Italian Black Metal act Winternius. That meant that within their ranks are not only musicians who have played their part in Expiatoria, Abysmal Grief and Necrodeath to name but a few, but also that the five piece now comprises three former members of Sacradis. We should also give a special mention to former guitarist Alessio “Alex Trivex” Gaglia who tragically died in a Motorcycle accident earlier this year. Recorded in March 2024 their sophomore album “Underwater Darkness” has been described by the band as taking influence from the 90’s Extreme Metal acts of Scandinavia with rasping Black Metal vocals, early Borknagar cited as the most prominent of those.

As they have such a rich history there is a certain weight of expectation, something almost instantly washed away by the introduction piece that precedes “Unholy Black Ship“. That offers a taste of something almost cinematic, as the organ setting a haunting tone as the waves crash gently upon the shore. Building the mountain, the song then muses on dark melodies in second wave of Black Metal stylings with vocalist Fabrizio Bottaro giving a spellbinding storytelling performance. Fabio Triggiani’s thunderous drumming is absolutely incredible on this majestic opening cut, aided and abetted by a tasteful solo in the final moments. The concept of the Ghost Ship continues into “The Beacon” with classic Black Metal rhythms and a ripper of a solo creating a menacing and sinister atmosphere. While the vocals aren’t as harsh as they could be, they serve their purpose, clean enough that the story within the lyrics can be enjoyed. There are a few clean vocal moments too, the opening verse of “Dark Mirage” floating on something more akin to Traditional Heavy Metal than anything else. The epic soloing that accompanies that is enthralling, the raspy Black Metal vocals returning before the galloping drums turn the first half of the track into a rampage. A melodic descent into madness in the mid section with hints at Jazz influenced bass means Winternius reach into the void to avant-garde territory and by the bitter conclusion you may find yourself wondering what you’ve just heard. In truth it’s a thing of dark malevolent beauty but it takes a little getting used if you’re not prepared for it.

Entering Black ‘n Roll territory “Gods of Hunger” twists and contorts in ethereal darkness, one moment pulling from the world of bands like Bewitcher and the next flirting with Blackened Pink Floyd like soundscapes, all the while sounding intriguing and captivating while not being something for purists of any subgenre. Its clear that Winternus have burned the rule book and burst into Extreme Metal flames at this point and that is something that works incredibly well. The dedication to craft is there for all to witness, the flow of the songs as they transition between styles as smooth as silk. Returning to the sound of the organ and the flow of water “Intro (Underwater Darkness)” serves as something of a palate cleansing interlude piece, creating a calm before the storm of “The Abyss“. On this one the five piece swim in the dark waters of Post-Black Metal, the scintillating solo and double kick drums enriching glorious melodies that accompany the wrathful vocals. There are a couple of spoken word moments where Bottaro’s voice almost mimics that of Jello Biafra, which is a surreal nuance in amongst many to be found like nuggets of gold in the dirt of each repeated listen.

Restless and relentless drumming plunges the discerning listener into eternal darkness with “Black Evil Cormorants“, the rasping vocals sounding like the cries of someone with a boa constrictor wrapped around their neck. A vicious tirade from start to finish with classic styled guitars, it may have you wondering what mythology the band are following while humming along to the melody. Evil birds that pluck out the eyes are common in horror circles but Cormorants who eat fish don’t fit that narrative. It’s clear by this point that we’ve left behind the concept element of the record in the first six songs, the final three sounding very much independent of the rest thematically but not sonically. A search for ancient evil in “Vile Vortex” makes it a powerhouse cut with a mesmerising solo at its beating black heart, the knife twisting in the soul before its grand finale. One of the finest moment of the album with some fantastic leads its well worth waiting for, as is  “Global Alien War“, a track which has delicate synths in the background to give it a haunting touch in the first half. The second has an old school pomp and circumstance to it, giving it the feel of a dance macabre before another solo of stunning proportions takes us into the fade. A rewarding listen in avant-garde Black Metal, this is one for which expecting the unexpected and being open to embracing its charms is essential [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Intro / Unholy Black Ship
2. The Beacon
3. Dark Mirage
4. Gods of Hunger
5. Intro (Underwater Darkness)
6. The Abyss
7. Black Evil Cormorants
8. Vile Vortex
9. Global Alien War

“Underwater Darkness” by Winternius is out 12th September 2025 via Dusktone and is available over at bandcamp.