Fimbul Winter: The familiar sound of “What Once Was’

What began as a laid-back get-together to play the Amon Amarth demo from 1994, “The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter,” soon turned into a genuine urge to craft new music that really captures the spirit of the early Swedish scene, honouring its roots and maintaining that intense vibe.

Just to clear things up, this isn’t a project! So here you have, Fimbul Winter dropping their debut EP “What Once Was” on November 14th! If you’re into the genre, you’ll recognise that the band features former founding members of Amon Amarth, Anders Biazzi and Niko Kaukinen, along with Fredrik Andersson, the long-time drummer from Amon Amarth. Clint Williams is joining them, bringing a fresh burst of energy and intensity to the band’s sound. Also, the EP features session bass by Tobias Cristiansson, from Necrophobic, Grave, Dismember, and a bunch of other bands!

The EP starts strong with the intense opener, “Storms Rage,” pulling listeners straight into the world of melodic death metal. If you’re after something truly unique, you might find the sound a tad predictable. It’s really rooted in those classic Swedish metal vibes, from the guitar riffs to the rhythm section. Clint’s voice really stands out, giving off a raw vibe that hints at a change in the overall sound. I was surprised by how much his presence shifted everything.

Fredrik’s drumming is a total powerhouse, always keeping the energy high and perfectly in sync with the fast pace of every track. The guitar melodies and riffs are super intricate and well-crafted within the genre’s structure, and they sometimes even bring in a bit of that compelling atmospheric black metal vibe, which is pretty cool.

The debut single, “Mounds of Stones,” definitely grabs your attention right away, and it’s clear why it’s leading the pack. Clint’s vocal delivery really brings the track to life with a raw, powerful intensity, even though the guitar riffs eventually steer the music back to those familiar genre patterns.

All five songs are definitely high quality, but they kind of blend together for me, making it a little tricky to distinguish one track from the others at first. I think it would have been great to have a bit more dynamic range and contrast between the songs, even for an EP. There’s so much potential here, especially with those technical skills and that one-of-a-kind vocal performance.

Swedish sound – check
Viking sound – check
Unexpected vocal talent – check
Innovation – unchecked

Track list:

1. Storms Rage
2. What Once Was
3. Mounds Of Stones
4. A Soul That Soared
5. In Solitude’s Embrace