CoC : Blackwinds - Flesh Inferno : Review

Blackwinds - _Flesh Inferno_
(Regain Records, 2008)
by: Jackie Smit (6.5 out of 10)

Among the talents that Blackwinds can justifiably lay claim to -- and they do have a few -- is the ability to weave a finespun atmosphere out of some fairly linear ideas. Take the opening track on their Regain Records debut for an example. Starting with a mid-tempo gallop that's practically choking on mid-Nineties black metal histrionics, by the time the band are ready to draw a line under it and move on to the next number, they've criss-crossed enough synth and guitar lines to form something of a sonic myopia. That they elect to repeat this formula on practically every one of _Flesh Inferno_'s ten tracks shouldn't come as a surprise, given the fact that the band's lineage traces its roots back to Setherial; themselves a troupe who had the habit of sticking to what they know, regardless of how often they ended up repeating themselves. To their credit, Blackwinds for the most part are able to steer clear of that trap, and manage to keep proceedings spiced up enough so as to at the very least remain interesting. Just don't make the mistake of expecting to them to be among black metal's brightest shining lights this year.

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/blackwindsdomain

(article published 8/6/2008)