Review Summary: SPOOKY SEASON = BLACK METAL SEASON
Portuguese raw black metal is definitely a subgenre (??) that needs a lot more attention. Occelensbrigg's Old Winters Yet to Come is a clinic on how to mix muddy lofi production with a bit of melody to create one of the best freezing cold atmospheres this side of Paysage d'Hiver, especially considering the heavy dose of dark ambient influences here as well. The drum performance in particular is outstanding, with the snare of the blast beats hitting you in the jaw like Mike Tyson while the rhythmic and trance inducing fills during slower sections will have you sinking into the blackest abyss. The riffs are buried but that also adds to the appeal of the ghost like white noise of the production. Same with the vocals that sound like a painful cry for help from another dimension through the static. Any fans of raw black metal would be doing themselves a disservice by not listening to this gem.
