In Depths Of Winter is a melodic death/doom band from Finland who formed in 2021. It is actually a one man project from J.H., also from the bands Shades of Deep Water and Sarajah.
I’m glad that this self-titled debut release from IN DEPTHS OF WINTER has been reissued for 2024 because it gives me a reason to review it, which I originally did not do the first time it came around in 2022. Not that I needed an excuse though because this album is darn near perfect for this style of melodic death and doom.
The atmosphere is bleak, frozen, and downright inhospitable. These elements are exactly what is needed for this type of music. With that being said, there is a certain chilling clarity to the overall sound of the album. This is music that represents a place that might as well be alien compared to most people…but for those who live it, this is life and the highest form of living to the fullest.
As one might expect, this album is as cold and brisk as a winter day. I could listen to this in direct sunlight in the middle of a hot August and I would still get chills. The songs are, at the base, riff and rhythm based. But the melodies and harmonies that form the layers tell a story of their own. The result is a mixture of heavy and melodic styles that sound truly moving and beautiful together even while being dark and heavy.
The album opens with “Winter Sun,” and it gets off to an immediate start with strong melodies already intertwining themselves among the thick riffs and tight rhythm of the bass and drums. The vocals are deep growls but aren’t guttural—just the right pitch, intense but intelligible. The keys are quite moving and really boost the atmosphere. This song is a musical tapestry, a true painting of notes to create a large whole.
“All Days Are Hell,” is ten minutes long but doesn’t feel like it—the dismal atmosphere is weighty but the songwriting is free flowing. The opening melodies are among the best on the albums and the drums in particular do a great job in complementing the other elements. The middle part of the song is rather atmospheric, both doomed and soaring high above the clouds. The later half has a gentle, almost classical quality to it but it fits the mood and themes of the song.
Since it takes the name of the band, I expected “In Depths of Winter” to be one hell of an epic track—my expectations were not only met but exceeded. This wintery mix is almost 11 and a half minutes long and every second is great. I love how the vocals and melodic tinges of the guitar contrast against each other yet they work so well together. These dynamics interplay a lot on this song, each type of instrument complimenting the other. This songwriting approach, which is not limited to just this song, but the album as a whole, lets the songs be dense in both terms of being heavy but also in its layers while still having an open and expansive sound.
“Nothing Left Unfinished” is a dark song that sounds similar to funeral doom due to its mournful nature. It’s probably my second favorite song on the album after the title track because it nails down a cold, dismal sound that sounds a little cavernous and claustrophobic compared to the other songs.
The final song, “Lukossa Ajassa” is one of the more bleak songs on the album. The opening moments recall cold, gloomy skies where the sun cannot tread. The riffs are ultra heavy and crawl by as a slow procession. The guitar melodies lend the song a Gothic vibe and I’m all for it. The vocals are strained, an emotional pain that is just begging to exert itself.
This reissue includes two tracks, “Winter Sun,” and “Lukossa Ajassa” in mono sound mode and these sound more raw and rough but I wouldn’t mind hearing the whole album produce this way, the songs sound even better with a little grit to them.
With the dense heaviness and lush layers of melodic gloom, I can feel the danger and trepidation that lurks within but I also feel an embrace—is it one of life or the endless void? Ultimately, regardless of how the music touches you, all these feelings are represented in top tier form. Worth revisiting again and a must listen for those who missed it a couple years ago.
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