Artist: Gorewinter
Country: Finland
Label: Werewolf Records
Formats: CD
Year: 2025
Gorewinter is one of those bands that have been mentioned only once in a while in discussions about the early sparks that ignited the Finnish Black Metal revolution. As long before bands like Sargeist and Satanic Warmaster took over and after the early goings of the likes of Beherit and Impaled Nazarene there were a couple of kids who laid the foundation of what today is considered one of the most interesting Black Metal scenes. One of those bands was Gorewinter, a duo that would later gain their fame in Moonsorrow, Thy Serpent, Vargrav and Octobde Tide. Yet, while these bands have a considerable sense for melodicism, Gorewinter wasn’t about that at all. Well, at least, they started that way…
This compilation brings together both demo tapes and an EP released as a CDR, however, it is somewhat unclear in what order these recordings were actually released. Depending on the source you use, the two demos are sometimes listed in different order. But listening to this compilation, there is little doubt that ‘Winterholocaust’ is at least the oldest recording – there is always the possibility that they were released later. That “release”, however, should also be taken with a grain of salt, because Marko “Baron” Tarvonen explains in public liner notes that none of those recordings were actually actively distributed. Something that seems to have been the rule rather than the exception in that early Finnish Black Metal scene.
The compilation seems to present the songs in chronological order. It starts with ‘Winterholocaust’, which is primitive and stomping piece of Black Metal with a strong low end-heavy, almost Death Metal connotation. Although it is not entirely clear whether these actually are the oldest recordings, but compared to the later tracks, these certainly convey a very primal energy that is quite akin to starting metal musicians. The repetitive riffing and rather one-dimensional rhythms do remind a bit of early Archgoat minus the grinding parts.
On a musical level things are getting a bit more interesting with ‘Battleblack’, that shows a completely different band. There’s not much left of their rather clunky, primitive early goings, instead the duo presented a set of very interesting songs that are not only well composed, but especially very well-orchestrated. Their sense for melody and catchy song writing is stunning, which makes you realise that these guys could certainly have joined the then emerging Melodic Black Metal wave. On the other hand, they did do that, but with their other bands. After all, it is difficult to deny that they contributed to that, especially with Moonsorrow.
‘Vernichtung (1995-1999)’ is a wonderful historical document that shows how much has remained under the radar of the “general public” when it comes to Finnish black metal, a scene that was certainly quite secretive in those days. And if you’re still wondering why Gorewinter is often seen as Moonsorrow’s predecessor, just listen to the song ‘Buried By Night’ and all your doubts will be dispelled.
