Search - Immortal :: At the Heart of Winter

Tragedies Will Withstand The Fall Of Time

OzzyApu | Seattle, WA | 07/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Immortal...top notch Black Metal. Consisting of mainly three members throughout their career, Immortal came forth during the height of their success with -At The Heart Of Winter-. This was the first to grab my attention towards actually listening to Immortal, mainly because of the majestic cover art. While only holding six tracks produced by the godly Peter Tagtgren, the album is more than enough to satisfy our diabolical tastes. One notably difference is the thrash influence, which works wonders with Immortal's formula.



One amazement to me is the virtuosic Abbath Doom Occulta. Since Demonaz suffered a severe hand injury, he was hindered so much that he couldn't remain an member, but wouldn't let his skills go to waste. Instead, he decided to become the bands lyricist, and his works show up on here. This has left Abbath to reach out to all instruments except drums. Really quite the feat when you think about it how much effort it takes. Then again I'm pretty sure there were session musicians.



Anyways, sides having the cover art in your possession, the tracks are truly divine. Notable nods would be given to inner four tracks: "Solarfall", "Tragedies Blow At Horizon", "Where Dark And Light Don't Differ", and "At The Heart Of Winter". The vocals are easy to come by, the riffs are a pleasure to listen to, the solos are thrilling, and while listening to all of that, your mind will drift into the heart of winter.



If this review doesn't say anything important about this CD to you, then look at the 5 star average and all the previous reviews. Almost all of them agree that -At The Heart Of Winter- is everything it strived to become. There is no turning back. The only thing left to do is journey 'till winters end."

Gigantic, menacing and monumental

Chet Fakir | DC | 09/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"New drummer Horgh adds the razor sharp precision and the ability to play a variety of rhthyms (other than just blast beats) missing from previous Immortal records (excepting Blizzard Beasts when Horgh first joined) and the band is better for it. Abbath now takes over on guitar with the result being a more melodic and somewhat slower approach: a sound that became most fully realized on their last album Sons Of Northern Darkness. But unlike that great album, this one is more atmospheric and just a little nastier, which is a good thing. The sound is flawless and huge thanks to Peter Tägtgren's production skills and the songs have a palpable sense or darkness and cold about them. At The Heart Of Winter reflects the waning influence of blast beat oriented black metal and the rise of what Immortal called themselves: holocaust metal and it's one of their best."

Where dark and light don't differ!

G.J. Head | Pittsburgh, PA | 12/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This release marked a clear change in sounds for Immortal. More clearness in their production value, and a general increase in the guitar sound resulting in clearer melodies and complex riffs (compared to their earlier releases).



Immortal trivia: this record is the only Immortal record to not have the band members on the cover!"