This is the third album from US solo symphonic black/death metal act Tine.
Tine made a very positive impression on me with 2015’s The Forest Dreams of Black, and followed this up well with 2022’s Mergae Maris Profundi. As such, it’s with expectation that we turn to the 42 minutes of new material that A Winter Horrorscape provides us with.
This time around the artist behind Tine has broadened his musical reach, adding session musicians to further flesh out his vision for symphonic black/death metal. The drums and strings are all real, with the latter in particular having a strong impact on the album’s rich sound.
A Winter Horrorscape is Tine’s most accomplished work yet. This is true in multiple areas. The album’s production values are good, meaning that this is the best sounding Tine album. The additional musicians have rounded out the artist’s core competencies, allowing the music a greater breadth of achievements. Finally, and most importantly; the songwriting. The former two aspects of A Winter Horrorscape would amount to little were the songs not of an equal quality level, but they are.
As befitting its name, A Winter Horrorscape is cold and unforgiving. It builds icy soundscapes from blackened aggression and deathly brutality. Arising from this foundation are immersive atmospheres, layered with symphonic depth. The compositions make use of effective structuring, dynamics, and worldbuilding, making for songs that hit the spot and hit hard. There is an effective blend of aggressive energy and dark atmosphere showcased across the record.
The songs are confident and belligerent. They proclaim their true intentions for all to see, announcing victory and dominance over all, before following up on their threats with overwhelming force. They’re merciless too, with a relentless quality – despite the different paces employed – that feels as if the songs are forever attacking. Winter Comes and Return to the Black Forest in Winter are the exceptions, allowing the listener respite from the carnage. They’re both orchestral intro/interlude songs, but rather than being disposable as is usually the case with such tracks, they’re exceptional.
The vocals are well-performed, and you can hear the development in the artist’s voice. The singer’s screams, growls, and cleans are all characterful and powerful. They’re a tad high in the mix for my tastes, (or the music a tad low), but this is only a minor issue, and allows his performance to shine. His vocal patterns, sentence delivery, and use of hooks is very good. The style is primarily one of screams, but the growls and cleans do appear in places.
This is a collection of songs that is easy to like, offering a satisfying dose of extreme metal intensity. A Winter Horrorscape is an enjoyable and engaging feast of symphonic black/death metal. If you haven’t yet checked out Tine’s work, now’s the time.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 