This is a reissue of Vinterland's only (as of this writing) full-length album Welcome My Last Chapter, originally released back in 1996. The band plays melodic black metal of a style that is not uncommon today but was probably not as widespread in 1996. Howling rasps are laid over droning riffs and keyboard melodies to create haunting atmospheres, but Vinterland also work in an epic direction with clean singing and piano interludes. The sense of space on songs like "Wings of Sorrow" that results from the alternating vocals is reminiscent of later Bathory, whereas the acoustic instrumentation (piano, snare drum) on "Vinterskogen" reminds me of where Summoning would take the genre. As someone who has come to black metal more recently, I can't speak to how groundbreaking Welcome My Last Chapter may have been at the time, but hearing it today I can say it is solid and I am enjoying it, but it doesn't blow me away. If you haven't heard this album at some point in the last 25 years and enjoy melodic black metal, I say grab a copy of this reissue, it is worth your time.
