Immortal - At the Heart of Winter

This legendary band's first album, beginning their notoriety with a selection of absolute classics, including the epic 'The Call of the Wintermoon'. This set down the essential Immortal blueprint which they followed on the next three albums: speed on the edge of self-destruction, razor-sharp guitars which bite to the bone, lyrics which illustrated their own icebound world, and a sense of Northern melody which is completely their own. Bursting with Bathory influence, obviously, but still a classic true Norwegian black metal release. Album Description

Stunning!.

Immortal is a truly unique and great Norwegian black metal group, the lyrics in their songs have been inspired by occult themes and the Norwegian forests with its bitter cold climate and heavy winter. If you can look beyond the gimmicky face paint (they do look ridiculous almost like satanic members of Kiss) you'll realise what a great album this is, At The Heart Of Winter has great production value and a fantastic epic sound unlike their previous albums which were underproduced, the album also has some intricate guitar riffing and tempo changes while still retaining the blastbeats thats found in other Black Metal groups, the album was also produced by Peter Tagtgren who also produced for groups like Hypocrisy and Satyricon so if you liked those two then your going to love this.

There are songs like Solarfall and Tragedies blows at horizon which showcases the creative arrangements while singer and lead guitarist Abbath screeches like a beast, the songs still have a hint of melody but manage to sound heavy. The song Where dark and light don't differ sounds like the group might be preparing for battle or something and the drummer Horg comes up with some amazing drum patterns along with Abbath's great riffs which makes this one of the best black metal songs I've ever heard and The title track At The Heart Of Winter which starts of with a melodic intro and a synthesizer is quite bizarre and sounds very atmospheric in fact I just got a chill listening to it then the song starts blasting off with its heavy and cascading riffs and I must say that it was one of the best black metal tracks I've heard so far then the album closes off with the epic song Years of silent sorrow.

Immortal has definitely been influenced by Bathory especially on this album where you can tell that they experimented a little, anyway At The Heart Of Winter was absolutely perfect and it doesn't have a single bad song on it so if you like extreme or black metal music then you should definitely check it out, like I said Immortal are one of the best black metal groups out there. April 14, 2008

excellent!

Along with "Sons of Northern Darkness," this is the best release from Immortal. Unlike a majority of black metal (which I feel is an acquired taste), this is an album/band that many fans of non-radio friendly metal could get into. Every song on this album is awesome, due mostly to the brilliant and memorable riffs and song-writing abilities of Abbath. The production is also excellent--discernable riffing, blast-beats, etc., without sounding slick or polished.

Favorite track: "Where Dark and Light Don't Differ" April 1, 2008

where dark and light don't differ

An excellent album by one of the titans of Scandinavian black metal, At The Heart Of Winter features what I consider to be Immortal's most solid line-up - Abbath on guitars (and pretty much everything else), and Horgh on drums. Horgh manages to maintain the tempos throughout, leaving Abbath free to concentrate on unleashing devastating blasts of distorted power. The production is also markedly improved over their previous efforts, and while those who consider themselves "tr00 kvlt" will no doubt bash this album for not having a "pure black metal sound", I think it fits the album very well. Why? Because Immortal had started to infuse their sound with elements of German thrash metal, and the enhanced production allows their updated guitar style to be heard in all its glory. Listen to the phenomenal riffage on "Solarfall" and "Where Dark And Light Don't Differ" for proof. On a more general note, the trademark Abbath "reptilian warlord from hell" croaked vocals are in fine form, and as usual, Immortal manages to inject beautiful melody and ambience amidst the carnage of whirlwind guitars and drums - check out the outro riff to "Withstand The Fall Of Time", "Solarfall" and "At The Heart Of Winter".

I consider this one of my three favorite Immortal albums, along with "Battles In The North" and "Sons Of Northern Darkness". It's well worth checking out. June 7, 2007

Immortals best

If you dont know who Immortal are, then there is a good chance you listen to *hitty music. Out of all the black metal bands to come and go, this band is by far the most solid. Combining Norwegian black metal with hints of death metal, they've pumped out opus after opus of intense, catchy black metal that hits your ears like sheets of ice. This CD is so cold, you'll have to listen to this with your thermostat up high and with a wool blanket around you.

If you liked this album, I suggest getting Emperor's Prometheus, Old Man Child's Vermin, and my favorite Black metal album, Dissection's Storm of the Light's Bane: Where Dead Angels Lie. February 3, 2007

Where winter beauty and winter carnage meet.

Now, I already reviewed the first version of this album, and being that it is in my top 5 favorite albums of all time, I figured I might as well add my review to the re-release. Also,don't mind the amazon review, that is for their first album released many years before this one.

Few albums come along in ones life where the music leaves you so speechless. For me, this is one of them. This is not only Immortal's best work in general but one of the greatest Black Metal albums ever to be released. Nothing can top Abbath's brutal riffs and his throat ripping vocals. The atmosphere of Darkthrone is here and the talent of Emperor. However, between all that makes this cd a masterpiece is some true beauty. Such as the main riff in Solarfall and the intro in At the Heart of Winter for a few examples. This is a true masterpiece of winter beauty and winter carnage.

1. Withstand the Fall of Time (8:29) The first track begins with a single riff before the rest joins in, while the riff not really memorable will grow on you. The first minute is spent gearing up before the song gets into full speed. About 3 and a half minutes into the song it slows down before getting a second wind about 4:15 into it and doesn't stop until the song quietly dies out. WOnderful opening track. I could not think of a better song to open up this album. 4.5/5

2. Solarfall (6:02) Immortal's best song of all time. A short drum roll falls in follwoed by one of my favorite riffs of all time then hell is broken loose upon an unsuspecting listener. The song does not let up for one second and has some of their best drumming as well. The vocals are enough to make you wish to conquer all you face. The vocals are almost dreadfully slow in a good way, almost like you wonder how he isn't tearing all of his vocal chords. The song slows down 2:20 into it with some slow drumming but soon returns with that crushing riff. Best song here. 25/5

3. Tragedies Blows At Horizon (8:55) This song is 8 minutes and 55 seconds of pure magic. It really starts up about 40 seconds into it and grabs you with hardened claws and refuses to let up. I love the way the guitar riff kicks in at 4:30 with nothing but a take no prisoners attitude. A real highlight on the album. 5/5

4. Where Dark and Light Don't Differ (6:45) The first song I heard on this album and it is a winner. The most thrash influenced track on this album has no mellow intro but just decides to come at you full force. The best drumming on the album appears here. The riff that kicks in at 1 minute is majestic and incredible. An epic track. 10/5

5. At the Heart of Winter (8:00) This song honestly makes you feel like you're walking into the front line of a war at the heart of a winter storm. This song runs on talent, emotion and an epic battle cry. The two minute intro can't even prepare you for what is to come. Then the rest of the song kicks in barreling down on you like an avalanche you know you can't escape. With guitar playing that just screams talent. The rest of the song continues the epic trail the first half of the song left us with. 20/5

6. Years of Silent Sorrow (7:53) Well, instead of ending this masterpiece on a quiet note. Abbath and crew decide to go out fighting. With one of the fastest songs on the album begins the drums tear through your ears. The guitar is pretty fast in an almost frantic fashion at certain times. "Dome in the sky black winds to taste
shadowed spirits lead my way...
Drifting everly alone years of silent sorrow
until I'm home... " With those words spoken the final song dies out leaving you only time to pick yourself up and try to comprehend the incredible album you just heard. 5/5

In conclusion, if you haven't stopped reading this yet and purchased this album. I recommend you do so right now. Enjoy.
June 14, 2006

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