My first thought on being handed a copy of an album entitled ‘Cvlt’ was that it is a fairly audacious statement of intent and that this had better be bloody good! Despite the variation in the use of the word Kvlt as a signifier for something classically, perhaps even hopelessly, black metal, it could only mean these guys were pretty sure of themselves or sadly misguided. So I was a little surprised to find out that a) this is undeniably pretty bloody good and b) it’s not something you would describe as black metal, at least not other than at its outer frost-bitten fringes. Phantom Winter have produced a pretty heady mix of sludge with post-metal influences and something not far from treacle-slow doom with some very black and bleak edges. This is soul devouring stuff. Like the arrival of never-ending snow-fall where the only promise of salvation is the freezing cold clutches of death on the permafrost. Phantom Winter take their sludge formula and, like all of the most competent bands of that genre, manage to push it almost into noise territory, creating a soundscape that glitters at the edges with the band’s obvious post-rock and post-metal influences.
The band was formed by members of German post rock outfit Omega Massif, Christof Rath and Andreas Schmittfull, which also comes highly recommended. But Omega Massif offers a far lighter shade of psychedelic sludge rock. Phantom Winter, which sees the addition of vocalist Christian Krank and bassist Martin Achter, is of a different level of intensity altogether. It also has that refreshing sludge mentality that always feels like it provides me with much needed antidote to the largely obnoxious views of a lot of black metal bands, stunning though the music might be. But, back to the music, the heavy, blackened atmosphere of Cvlt steadily rolls forward with carefully paced and precise arrangements that rely on impressive and creative use of distorted lead guitars rather than what you might typically consider to be classic riffs. Out of the blackness comes shapes and sounds that begin to lift your eyes up from the hardened ground and onwards towards the far horizon. Across some barren and beautiful landscape. Forget flicking through the tracks – the seismic and anvil-heavy arrangements almost pin your sorry human limbs to the deck. Mesmerising and draining in equal measure, Phantom Winter are in total control from start to finish. Cvlt or kvlt, these guys knew exactly what they’re doing after all.
Cvlt offers very little compassion at all but as the tracks pass by the band adds new dimensions, albeit in startlingly monochromatic variations. In fact it is only on the fourth track Avalanche Cities that anything approaching respite arrives. But it lasts mere seconds at a time while the rest of the track sets about swallowing you whole with its impressive chugging guitar centrepiece complimented nicely by a singing tremolo that, at least for a brief fleeting moment, sends you soaring. Like a lot of this kind of psychedelic sludge, Phantom Winter had me totally captivated once I’d managed to penetrate the hard ice world the band have created here. A titanic record that, given half a chance, will not release you until the final bars.
(8.5/10 Reverend Darkstanley)
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