Breaths of Elder Dawns

United States of America
United States of America
9 Tracks
1:03:31
3 /5
Rating
Written by MetalMike
Published August 20, 2021

I last reviewed Windfaerer in 2015 and their second album Tenebrosum. I found it OK, nothing special and missed their next album (Alma), but I get a second crack at the band with their fourth full-length, Breaths of Elder Dawns. I still don't think this band is doing anything special with their brand of folk/black metal. The riffs here are OK but the guitars are neither as big nor booming as I would like, rather they are somewhat muted and don't kick as much ass as they could. The folk aspects of Windfaerer's music are explored in more depth on Breaths of Elder Dawns and while folk instruments can add to an album's atmosphere, here they (along with the keyboards) make for a cinematic feel minus the visuals, especially on the awesomely named but ultimately baggy "Entombed in Glacial Waves." At other times there's an almost prog vibe in some spots ("Longing to Ascend"). I like folk/black metal in general, but I find Windfaerer's take indulgent and uninteresting.