Press

Here is a review of a live show done by a Richmond, Style Weekly Reporter.


NO SEVEN TRUMPETS… Grunts and screeches spurt from a dreary megalomania of crunching guitar thundering drums and rumbling bass. A zealous fan, face painted white and black, sits on a drum-rise. His dreaded hair bounces as he headbangs, seemingly unaware of visions around. In a room decorated with dartboards, arcade games and a cardboard cutout of John Wayne, most toe tap, some nod their head with the march and others play pool. In the adjacent room after a few drinks at the bar, many jeer and laugh and some silently cheer.

Welcome to Winter's Mourn. It's their fourth show ever. What Winter's Mourn experienced on June 24 at Buster's Fine Food and Pub in Colonial Heights could be described as nerve-racking. None of the three supporting bands arrived. Dominum wasn't expected due to vacation. Borealis called Buster and canceled due to car troubles and illness. So the show started on a pretty mellow note, both metaphorically and realistically.

It wasn’t quite a funeral, but with the melodic keyboard intro that gained much audience attention you did get that feeling. This intro segued into a quick, crushing "Curse of Berkshire." Unfortunately, Buster’s is not known for their sound system and the band suffered. Kristian Mourn's vocals could not be heard until the second verse because of the PA problems.

Otherwise the group gave the audience a peek into their own personal hell. Guitarist Daniel Wall led the horde with ironclad riffs. They tore through there set and kept playing even though minor problems began to arise. Bassist Saint Darkblud who joined the band the day before had been up most of the night learning his parts. He was in good form although he took a couple glances at some sheet music. He suffered amp problems near the end and a polo-shirted roadie had to hold the amp during the remainder of the show. Unfortunately, the problems caught up with the band. Their appearance would be cut short when drummer Neil Moran began to suffer leg cramps at the end of the set. The cramps were evident during “No Seven Trumpets,” but Moran was able to pull through for a very solid ending. During and after the show, audience response was different. Even those who said they like the music had some qualms with it. One teenage fan said he thought the music was pretty exciting, but he didn’t care for the vocals. He wasn’t clear whether or not it was the guttural quality of Mourn’s voice or “anti-Christian messages” that disturbed him.

After the show, Mourn did bring up the point that only two songs are about religion, “No Seven Trumpets,” and “Winter’s Sorrow.” The latter is actually about the four horsemen and not too anti-religious until Mourn cusses out religious leaders, like Jerry Falwell.
One fan, Alan Daniel, who was rumored to be the always-controversial St. Phallen, said he thought the band sounded better at Connie’s in Virginia Beach because of the clubs sound system. Well, that’s a good point. Winter’s Mourn will work out the kinks at Buster’s on August 5 and 11. (Look for an interview with the members of Winter’s Mourn sometime around mid-August. You can mail questions to jacobp@richmond.com.)



Setlist included: Curse of Berkshire, One Maiden, Eternal tears, Warriors of honor, No seven trumpets,and Winter’s sorrow

Email: nuclear_winter0@hotmail.com