frigoris-wind-reviews

Review from Transcending Obscurity Webzine

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 09:06:27 +0100

From: Transcending Obscurity Webzine

Published: August 14, 2014

This German Black Metal band is at once reminiscent of early Agalloch and that can’t be a bad thing. The band however is trying to find its own voice using the template, so to speak. It has a lot to express and goes about employing several acoustics parts and interludes if you will, to reach a point where it’s Black Metal primarily. That’s probably the only problem I have with this release is that it takes too long to build up. I want to get to the part where the music is rife with emotions, it’s fast, it’s poignant. Too much meandering tests your patience. Agalloch, on its landmark album, ‘Pale Folklore’ only did it initially and went on to carry that momentum almost throughout the album. Frigoris, with its hues of Folk-inspired music reminiscent of also Tenhi among others, takes a bit more time to get to the faster parts which is where the band really shines. It’s only in the third track that the band comes into its own, and carries that enthusiasm on to the album highlight that comes after that one in Frühlingsnacht. When it reaches the crescendo, female vocal parts are employed to accentuate the mood – that’s one memorable piece that I keep coming back to. When the band is in its element, it’s as good as Agalloch and has shades of beauty that even Agalloch doesn’t possess. The band even goes on to play really fast, with the drumming almost being in a blastbeat mode. At such times the Swedish bands such as Dissection come to mind, perhaps Sacramentum and also Dawn and Setherial. The melodies are sharp and flowing, and you’re afraid they’d bleed your soul any time now.

This again is an album that requires you to be patient. For me, initially the band was too reminiscent of Agalloch for its own good, but as the album progresses, the band gets mature and writes more individualistic songs. The placement of songs is a matter of concern because I find the momentum waning because of excessive interludes or long slow openings to epic songs. There’s one song that’s very brisk and promising but has spoken word passages which seems to be detrimental to the overall sound. But then all this is trivial given the depth of music found on this album. It has a beautiful texture that you can’t stop yourself from appreciating and a wonderful balance overall of Black Metal and influences from all over that are subtly infused into the proceedings. ‘Wind’ is an exquisite album, one that requires time perhaps even if it’s again very accessible (too much so) for its own good much like Windbruch. But then again, this is something that despite everything is far more lasting than the faceless harsh bands out there. The emotions here are exposed in all their beauty and you can see them as they are. Some you can relate to, some maybe others will.

Reviewed by: Kunal Choksi

Review from Metal Revolution Webzine

Thu, 01 May 2014 20:58:35 +0100

From: Metal Revolution Webzine

Published: April 29, 2014

Original Link

*Google translation of Czech review

Frigoris is a German metal band releasing their sophomore album. They were initially formed (2007) as a Pagan & Black Metal band, but steadily developed their sound. Now, it is mostly filled with a beautiful soundscapes and epic emotions.

Their sound nowadays is hard to categorize, but I would call it a melodic and atmospheric black metal. What we have here are eight majestic tracks that are emotional and intense while creating this bond between pure black metal aggression and a deep melancholy known from doom metal. I admire their ability to mix ferocious black metal with acoustic guitar and almost Nordic folk sensibilities.

There’s this natural beauty in each of the songs even though it sometimes feels fragile and sorrowful. The overall musicianship is a first-class and an example to follow. It has numerous catchy melodies, melodic guitars, astonishing (male and female) vocals, slow heart beating drumming with loads of snares and pedals, luminous atmosphere and stellar production. Almost all of the lyrical content is in their native German, with minor exceptions of some spoken-word lyrics as exemplified within a song called “Ode an verlorene Seelen”.

Fans of Folkish black and doom metal in the vein of Kampfar, Agalloch, Woods of Ypres, Helrunar, Shining and early Falkenbach should try this new epic and majestic release from Frigoris.

Rating: 84/100

Reviewed by: Bato

Review from Forgotten Path Magazine; Issue 6

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:00:32 +0100

From: Forgotten Path Magazine; Issue 6

Published: November 2014

Magazine Website

The taste of “Hypnotic Dirge Records” in Black Metal isn’t always easy to understand and be acceptable to me; however, they surely didn’t miss with this second album of German project Frigoris. This time it’s Black Metal based on pagan values and the majesty of nature. Actually it’s a direction taken by many bands of today (including many German ones), like Imperium Dekadenz. Meanwhile, in the case of Frigoris, the music is significantly more atmospheric. Though there’s much astonishing speed, fast rhythms and riffs, BM-like vocals are dominant, there are still different acoustic parts - slower, melancholic - as well as elements, such as murmurs or a simple natural esoteric. They contribute to the atmospheric feel, making it similar to works by Woodtemple. On the other hand, you can’t call this record anything other than Metal. Certain vocals, drums and even guitars pieces remind me of another band from Germany - Kermania. All these examples are positive signs, though.

However, in my opinion, the disc lacks weight. While epic-ness and atmosphere are the trumps that make the album great, I’m sure heaviness and aggression would contribute to the album even more. Still, the disc, dedicated to the wind, falls to the list of majestic, epic releases that are definitely worth more attention.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Odium

Review from Volumes of Sin Webzine

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:41:46 +0100

From: Volumes of Sin Webzine

Published: March 8, 2014

Original Link

German band Frigoris received their start in 2007 and soon thereafter released their demo, Morgenröte, in 2008. In 2009 Dominik Winter did away with the three other members of his band due to internal differences. He formulated a new group, which consisted of two additional bodies, for the debut full-length album, Nach dem Kreig, which was released in 2010. After an additional line-up change which places three newcomers into the ranks of Frigoris, Wind has been released as the band's second full-length effort. Does the constancy in change benefit the outcome of this material?

The album opens appropriately with the soft sound of rain that's followed up by whooshing winds and chirping birds; soon to follow is the picking and strumming of an acoustic guitar and gentle whispering vocals. "Windgeflüster" is indeed the perfect opening track to this material as it sets a warm, distilled atmosphere for the oncoming content. Wind is a great example of an album that has cover art that completely suits the nature and ambience of music as a whole, and the listener will find themselves hearing the subtle sounds of nature intricately laid within varying tracks.

There is a defining folkish Pagan feel to the music that is immediately noticeable come "Zwischenwelten", the first real taste of the content that the listener will experience. Most of the tempos and song compositions are upbeat, somewhat joyous and make use of warm sharp chords and frets; this is akin to the 'summer black metal' quality that bands like Woods of Ypres and early Agalloch created. More notable is the ability that the members of Frigoris possess to effectively interlace subdued acoustic guitars with black metal blast beats, electric riffs and double bass kicks; this is done in such a refined manner that it sounds absolutely normal and comfortable, but it's a feature that is rarely heard in other albums.

That being said, the material does come with its share of predictably tedious black metal moments with bouts of extended tremolo picking and blast beat drumming, such as what is heard in "Frühlingsnacht", but these moments are few and barely hinder the recording. In fact, more often than not, the content is filled with blow-you-away moments like the full onslaught in "Im Keim ertrunken". This track starts out tame with a thought provoking acoustic introduction that bursts into ravenous black metal riffs and a spine chilling growl that's an absolute must hear. As well, "Ode an verlorene Seelen" is a memorable song in that it utilizes audio snippets of a woman speaking in English (the rest of the content is in German) about Christianity over both acoustics and electrics in the same manner that may remind one of V: Halmstad by Shining.

Even though they're sung entirely in German (thusly I have no idea what is being said without using a translator), the accomplished harsh growl vocals are clear and articulate to such a high standard that it rivals any surrounding black metal acts. Both guitarists put on a wonderful performance and the interwoven acoustics and electrics are absolutely mesmerizing; the album feels well rounded as a whole, but especially in the regard of utilizing both aforesaid elements. The drumming is decent, although comprised of nothing outstanding. The majority of the drum beats and patterns are generic but each beat is tight and fluid; the drummer does a great job in following the on-a-whim tempo changes that spike and drop throughout the entirety of the content.

If you missed Wind in 2013 then you should be doing as I am and smacking yourself for letting it fall under your radar. It's an absolute must hear for any fans of bands such as early Agalloch, Woods of Ypres, Helrunar and V:Halmstad era Shining. The album is warm and thought provoking with intriguingly creative acoustic segments that are wrapped with folk compositions and weighted with the quick and dirtiness of black metal. Check it out for yourself over at the Hypnotic Dirge Records Bandcamp, and make sure to support the band if you enjoy what you hear!

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Villi Thorne

Review from Pure Nothing Worship Magazine; Issue 2

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:40:27 +0100

From: Pure Nothing Worship Magazine; Issue 2

Published: February 2014

Magazine Website

As a relatively young and unknown German band, Frigoris strikes with their second full-length album called "Wind", and shift the attention to themselves. Being boldly compared to old Agalloch, old Woods of Ypres and Imperium Dekadenz, "Wind" carefully threads a distinctive path of emotional, atmospheric melodic black metal, with a few pagan black metal touches. The album delivers a strong emotional and natural atmosphere through use of acoustic guitars and melancholic melodies mixed with energetic black metal. Following the introduction acoustic track "Windgeflüster", the album sweeps onwards with "Zwischenwelten",an energetic track oriented on black metal with a subtle pagan feeling, with a emotional riff structure. "Frühlingsnacht" opens up with an acoustic intro, and grows into a heavy, mid tempo black metal track, in which clean guitars are intertwined with dark black metal riffs. Following is an instrumental track, "Hauch", a beautiful folk acoustic interlude, and by this point the albums distinctive image is forged - the perfectly balanced mixture of acoustic folk and atmospheric, pagan black metal, focused on creating a distinct emotional blend, a nostalgic journey through olden fields. Here, the comparison to old Agalloch is strongest, these moments resonate with "The Mantle" and "The White EP", but in their own way, with a distinct feeling, not just a mere copy. After these five songs and a careful build-up of atmosphere, and patient creation of the image, the album culminates with the sixth track "...und Asche rinnt durch meine Hände". An incredible track of profound composition and carefully woven melancholic melodies conveyed through this mid-tempo pagan black metal track, whose atmosphere is driven with careful combination of acoustics and distortion, whispered vocals and screams, heavy and tremolo driven riffs, slow and mid tempo drums, but all of it still veiled in a mist of melancholy. This is a milestone in the album, a point that seals the image this band creates. Following are the great instrumental "Ode an verlorene Seelen" filled with spoken samples and "Wenn die Maske bricht" similar to the preceding songs. At this point, being left awestruck and bewildered, the question that rested in my head - "Are we dealing with an unique masterpiece ?", became an obvious positive answer. Although repetitive at very few moments, "Wind" is a memorable, complex album mandatory for those who enjoy intelligent, melancholic music, somewhere in between atmospheric and pagan black metal. Recommended!

Review from Metal Center

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:18:41 +0100

From: Metal Center Webzine

Published: Unknown

Original Link

At first I was suprised with German language and very melancholic guitars, then it has began. Simple, but not burish perfect guitar riffs, strong lyrics took me far far away into the dark and brutal tales of the "Wind”. And then I pressed play button... again...and again. I couldn't get enough of this music and grim, but very poetical stories.

Frigoris is showing clearly that German language doesn't belongs to Rammstein and that good black guitars are not the main domain of Satyricon, Agalloch or Imperium Dekadenz. It's brutal, it's fresh, it's awesome and it deserves more media attention in my humble opinion. Please, stop making stupid people famous and do them instead.

The Sound is perfect. Mix and mastering are making you think only: „I wish I recorded it.” Seriously. I am very demanding if it comes to quality of the stuff I am using as a background for painting on the flash and, oh boy, Frigoris doesn't bother me at all... There's more: I've found it's atmosphere very helpfull...

Some will say that the guitars are too sterile and all is not true because of it, but fuck them, listen to this band and enjoy every second of bitter sweet music, this highly depressive spectrum of dark light.

Words...yeah, that's another story, this guy's lyrics will lead you through world described by lurid void between Wind lashes and that's no ass licking sentence... That's an objective fact, that camed out of objective observation. Nothing more, nothing less...Whatever... just listen to it:) It's first class, red-fuckin'-carpet-deserving proper black metal music with a bit of doom acoustic melancholy and emotional intensity that blows my mind. So I just press "play”. Again. And again... and again. And I am thinking: it would be very nice if I could meet them and leave a mark on those Guys bodies with my ink and needles. Come out, come out wherever you are:)

Rating: 10/10

Reviewed by: Zwierzê

Review from Metallifer Blogspot

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 19:47:56 +0100

From: Metallifer Blogspot

Published: December 4, 2013

Original Link

*Google translation of French review

Frigoris is a German group active since 2007 located in Essen, which after the first album Nach dem Krieg released in 2010, now offers its new album Wind . Wind was released via labels Misantropic Art Productions and Hypnotic Dirge Records . Frigoris evolves in a register "Atmospheric Pagan Metal, Black Metal". First, what is obvious is the production: solid, flawless, powerful and clear. This production highlights the many elements that characterize this album. First Frigoris alternates quiet moments to moments of fury and devastation. This tranquility is enhanced by noise (from water flowing) and an acoustic guitar, which is expressed by arpeggio. The acoustic guitar is accompanied by a second one and therefore is the other rhythmic soloist. This almost bucolic idyll or air is expelled with force by a very high tempo, instruments - this time - power, one way roller and a growl voice battery. The world Frigoris is the alternation of the calm and the storm, two extremes that alternate, follow each other in a ceaseless struggle.

There is poetry in this album with German texts, poetry (although I'm not fluent in German) made of solitude and freedom, death and cold, wind and sun.

Windgeflüster acoustically opens the album. The dream can start a voice that whispers and is barely higher than the sounds of nature. Zwischenwelten is thunder zebra heaven: the song is so direct, frontal leaving without words. Thunder stuns nature although in rhythmic structure there is a certain melody and harmony. The same pattern is repeated in I m Keim Ertrunken where acoustic tempos happily flirt with the more metal side and extreme Frigoris .

To break a certain repetitiveness that could (although it says, "could") occur Frigoris confuses. First on the title Frühlingsnacht Melanie Schmitz puts his path that turns soft and delicate in contrast to that of Dominik Winter (well, we are still in contrast sun - night and Beauty and the Beast). Then Hauch and An Ode Verlorene Seelen are two different instrumental tracks them. Hauch is sound and always enhanced by the solid production. Verlorene An Ode Seelen is the title that is not expected: voice and see more industrial structure thrash than black. If we find a downside to this album it'll just be the title An Ode Verlorene Seelen because it is too dissonant and unusual in the economy of the album, one wonders what could be its purpose.

Frigoris sign with Wind album that flirts perfection. It is undeniable that nothing technically and stylistically Wind would cap at 8/10 but in addition with the emotions it conveys and the universe in which we are then transported note soared. Just remains as a little below but who cares!

Rating: 9.5/10

Review from Metal.de

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:41:17 +0100

From: Metal.de

Published: October 27, 2013

Original Link

*Google translation of German review

Pagan Black Metal from Germany - this scene has certainly produced some excellent bands and albums, but also quite often in very large garbage is produced. Frigoris of food hit more on the latter side - though is their second album "Wind" was no big garbage without any bright spots, but it's also really, really not a good album. since switch to "wind" that is reasonably audible, but the majority also interchangeable Akkustikparts with melodielastigem Black Metal from how it had previously manufactured many, many bands, so little of what Frigoris make on their second album, new, or even inspired some form of sounds, instead prevailing stereotypes and clichés before. Of course, there are here and there sometimes one or the other Listener - "Spring Night" for example, has two, three interesting parts, including the instrumental "breath" while not less interchangeable than the rest, but nice to listen to. The following "... and ash runs through my hands" can even come up with a really intense vocal part and deserve so that the predicate "worth listening to" - but that he is the only song on "wind", to the true in its entirety. but a few nice moments and ideas and a really useful track rich nunmal far off - not in a genre that from very, very much mediocrity and garbage anyway crowded, and not in a time when every PC at home a decent sounding riff production and can release an album. "Wind" is recorded without error, it has its plus dots and it's guaranteed (and by far) is not the worst thing I've ever heard of the German Melodic-Black-Metal-/Pagan-Metal-Landschaft - but it will not long remain in the memory and can hardly make a name.

Rating: 4/10

Reviewed by: Stephan Möller

Review from Nocturnal Cult Webzine

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 18:23:40 +0100

From: Nocturnal Cult Webzine

Published: October 8, 2013

Original Link

Majestic Teutonic black metallers Frigoris return for their sophomore album and paint a soundscape of epic and forlorn emotions for nearly 50 minutes on Wind. After cold, fragile acoustic guitars pull you into a world of natural beauty on Windgefluster, you are then transported to a field of darkness as Zwischenwelten unfolds. Slowly drifting riffs flow in blackened, yet somehow folky rhythms while stony vocals drag across the music. I am reminded a bit of Kampfar with Frigoris' style. Acoustic guitar deepens that folky feel for me until more forceful riffs color the fabric of the song with melancholy. Im Keim Ertrunken feels weathered with its slowly weaving guitars in its initial section. At the 2:21 mark we are finally struck with forceful black metal that undulates quickly while maintaining a terrific pace. After a clean guitar interlude a delicate, epic riff caresses the song before once again exploding into aggressive drum patterns. Another instrumental on the album is Hauch and is fraught with sorrow and nostalgia through its use of acoustic guitar in a somewhat desolate context. Und Asche Rinnt Durch Meine Hande builds with doomy, fuzzed out guitars accented by lonely melodic flourishes and folky black metal touches. The vocals are so imposing in this song but fit the moodiness of the music. An ancient pagan atmosphere permeates the midtempo riffs and imbues it with a feeling of faded splendor. But there is a surprise lurking in the songwriting as the guitars and drums dance of one another in an unexpected way before the track bursts into energetic black metal. Fans of folky black metal in the vein of Kampfar and early Falkenbach should cling to Frigoris, though musically they are somewhat more morose and somber than those two bands. You can hear hints of Agalloch nesteled within the sorrowful fringes of the album, most noticeably on doomier portions of Wenn Die Maske Bricht. Wind is an album of solitary glory and blackened beauty.

Reviewed by: Bradley Smith

Review from The Pit of the Damned Webzine

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:44:10 +0100

From: The Pit of the Damned Webzine

Published: October 2, 2013

Original Link

*Google translation of Italian review

Back to the Hypnotic Dirge Records with the third album released this summer, that of the Teutonic Frigoris. The band Dominik Winter (that there is a correlation between the name of the mastermind and how much of icy might evoke the name of the band?) Propina a concentration of black mid tempo very melodic guitars which in some ways may remember the song of the Dissection of the swan alas disappeared. Eight tracks including two instrumental intro to delight with more than three quarters of an hour of music from "Zwischenwelten" glimpse glimmers of good excellent sounds that unfold between Amon Amarth, Fen and acoustically recall the Agalloch . On paper, "Wind" sounds like a bomb, but there are still many details to be filed: absolutely spot on arpeggiated interludes, as well as well as those epic Viking, a little 'less the result that comes out of the scores faster or at least from the more aggressive . The grim vocals Dominik are not bad in their evil screaming. Another suffused arpeggio life lasts for a couple of minutes in the epilogue of "Im Keim Ertrunken" before the infernal rhythm take over the beating the drums Leather precise and sharp guitar sound, produced by the duo format axes by the same Dominik and Raphael. The atmosphere is rarefied, melancholic, at some point because even hypnotic rhythm guitar keeps turning on itself with a paralyzing loop on which the soloist. The Frigoris are definitely the masters in creating beautiful atmospheres and sinister so much space is left in gentle interludes, typically crammed with nostalgia and strong references from folk. Exciting. I must admit to having underestimated the potential of "Wind" and have it stamped at first listen album as poor. But playing it back, I realized that lurk in the music of our moods, feelings and emotions that have not left me completely bewildered, but rather made me appreciate you listen to, the proposal of the German quartet. Obviously we do not have in front of the star players but neither Rotters' and when in "Frühlingsnacht" also appears in the sweet voice of Melanie, the bass player, I can only be pleasantly blown away and re-evaluate my rating assigned to the release. Dreamy, and the first of two instrumental tracks is proof, while the second is a mix of thrash, black and folk narrative with vocals. To complete the album would cite "... Und Asche Rinnt Durch Meine Hände", song that harks back to the sounds decidedly Cascadiani and the melancholy conclusion, headed by the sombre notes of "Wenn Die Make Bricht", fully convince me of the goodness of this work of decadent black metal. Folklore.

Rating: 70/100

Reviewed by: Francesco Scarci