Review: “Woven Into Ashes” by Vintersea

Once again featuring cover art by Ne Obliviscaris singer Xenoyr, “Woven Into Ashes” is the third full length of Corvallis, Oregon based Vintersea – a band who began life as Asterion and released a debut EP in 2014. Changing their name in 2016 the have since released a two critically acclaimed albums in 2017’s “The Gravity of Fall” and 2019’s “Illuminated” that takes inspiration from their Pacific Northwest homeland while melding together elements of Progressive Metal with both Blackened Death and Post-Metal to create something both violently dark and achingly beautiful. Fronted by Malaysian-born singer Avienne Low, this new offering was engineered by Gabe Johnston (Unto Others, Silver Talon). Mixing was handled by the team of Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland (Rivers of Nihil, Lorna Shore, Black Crown Initiate) with mastering courtesy of Troy Glessner (Devin Townsend, Underoath, Moonsorrow)…

…as band who have been together for almost a decade (with the exception of bassist Karl Whinnery who as been in the band five years), the experience and comfort of playing together as musicians translates in depth and texture to the final offering here as the vision is made reality in seemingly effortless fashion. “Unveiling Light” finds Avienne Low embodying the clean vocal prowess of Cammie Gilbert of Oceans Of Slumber and the unclean brutality of Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer in one single entity with a jaw dropping display. Accompanied by the bands rich and textured Progressive Extreme Metal guitars that add a warmth and vibrancy as well as Black Metal inspired kit work from Jeremy Spencer including plentiful blasting, it’s very much a match made in heaven. A weight and gravity of emotion is carried across in the spellbinding performance that is complex and intriguing and that’s before we’ve even reached the end of the first of eight chapters in this epic offering. Dirge laden riffs give “Devil’s Churn” more bite during the opening verse, the breath taking clean chorus into a stunning solo pushing the extremes that the band can offer, challenging the listener to open the mind in the process. They’re not extremes that would naturally live together and yet this group of musicians manage to interweave them with skill and dexterity in mesmerizing ways, the sinister chord progression that brings the house down on this one a real ear worm moment.

Building with an Scandinavian Folk Metal vibe before bursting into flame with Black Metal blast beats and vicious unclean growls, “Crescent Eclipse” is an absolute monster of a cut which rises and falls like the tide. Captivating with its storm like turbulence, the dark tale has Gothic touches underneath the weight of the other sounds with moments of orchestration that rise to the surface of the mix over multiple listens. A extended climbing solo is opulence itself, while the layered clean and unclean vocals for the chorus makes for something immensely powerful. Despite its enthralling guitar work with Melodic Death Metal overtones, there is a dull ache of melancholia at the black heart of “At The Gloaming Void” as Low stairs into the void at twilight, it’s crushing finale fitting the atmosphere like a glove. Well placed to enhance the flow of the album over all, the melodic leaning “Parallel Duality” finds Vintersea flexing their muscles with a more Progressive Metal tune full of polyrhythmic ideas that seem to owe a debt to artists like Plini and Periphery. Sullen and swirling the darkness doesn’t left for this one however it is permeated by chinks of light through the black clouds, even when Low delivers a demonic verse against a backdrop of pure melancholia.

That’s not the end of the twists and turns of this page turning thriller with a seemingly Jazz club inspired opening to “Lonesome Tide” before the violence churns up the soil of destiny once more. There is a wonderful flow between the Scandinavian Folk Metal inspirations at the heart of this one and its punchier, Black Metal moments as the band reach into the void of the avant-garde in sublime fashion, the meandering solo from Jorma Spaziano being a particularly special moment. The beautiful dull ache of “Into the Horizon” is an open letter of introspective thought that is a bold and brave melodic endeavour, pushing the envelope once more by this time not introducing a verse of writhing anguish and unclean savagery. Instead the opportunity that is there is gently passed over in favour of not darkening the mood further, something that is done with a style and grace while not feeling simply tacked on to the end. Concluding undertaking the ominously titled “No Tomorrow” builds gently before the the unclean vocals are once again unleashed, searing and scaring the flesh and offering catharsis as the music reaches a new cinematic high all around her. Both epic and majestic, the musicianship is once again enthralling and complex, even before a funky bass solo rises from the black depths [8.5/10].

Track Listing

1. Unveiling Light
2. Devil’s Churn
3. Crescent Eclipse
4. At The Gloaming Void
5. Parallel Duality
6. Lonesome Tide
7. Into the Horizon
8. No Tomorrow

“Woven Into Ashes” by Vintersea is out 5th May 2023 via M-Theory Audio with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.