Windfaerer - Breaths of Elder Dawns (2021)

Hailing from New Jersey, Windfaerer is one of those bands that has a very European sound and has been turning heads with their intense and yet emotional brand of Black/Folk Metal. With “Breaths of Elder Dawns” the band showcases their highly refined style with over 60 minutes of lush music featuring the perfect blend of musicianship, aggression and melancholy. Highly recommended for fans of bands like Ensiferum, Equilibrium, and Eluveitie.

Opening with the lush string instruments of “Oxalá”, the band quickly transports the listener to a different realm and time. We love that this genre always creates majestic soundscapes and this outfit is one of the best at it. The band is no stranger to playing fast and melodic as the epic “Depletion” showcases this balance alongside some killer guitar leads and dramatic tempo changes.

Expertly managing the album’s flow, while “A Forbidden Path” provides that folky slow piece, the band nicely transitions into the fury of “Into the Mist” and its pummeling guitar work. By the time “Astral Tears” and “Starcrossed” come around, the listener is fully immersed in the band’s highly melodic and enjoyable sound. The blending of the violins, clean vocals, melodic interludes, is done very well, taking the track in multiple directions in very natural and enjoyable ways.

Our favorite track has to be the doomy “Longing to Ascend” and its melancholic edge. Closing the release with the heavy hitting “Entombed in Glacial Waters”, we are left very impressed with the quality and flow of this release. Windfaerer has been unleashing killer releases since their demo, and this release capitalizes on their musical evolution and refinement.

Label: Avantgarde Music

Release: August 27th, 2021

Genre: Black/Folk Metal

Country: USA