Winter, who are currently undergoing a change of moniker, are a progressive duo consisting of Edward Faust and Tom Engel. (At least on this recording.) Faust handles guitars, bass, drums and percussion; Engel sings. And it's an amazing combination, and this single song inspired me enough to write a review about it. So, here we go.
"The Circle" is the title of this song, and it opens very quietly. Reverberating acoustic guitar that gives the impression of a rippling pool of water is the first thing we hear, accentuated by very light taps on the cymbals; and then, for but a moment, the cymbals become louder -- teasing you into a build-up, but falling back to the gentle strumming ... and Tom, who sings quietly at first, as befits the moment. But around 1:10, the storm that had been brewing lets loose, and what follows is an exquisite progressive metal song filled with Faust's powerful, driving rhythms -- from both guitars and drums; the former receives a touch of leadwork in the form of a quiet, yet stirring solo -- and Engel's singing. Engel has quite a range and doesn't seem uncomfortable with showing it; when he goes for a high note near the end of the song I can't detect any strain, just as when he's snarling earlier in the song it doesn't come off as weak or contrived -- the man is truly gifted with a variable voice, with which he can also emote very well. I hope to hear more singing by him in the future.
Faust, on the other hand, abuses his kit like he intends to pound it into the ground. The song is a mid-paced affair and he keeps that tempo nicely with guitars and drums. The guitars reflect the link with a rippling pool of water when they first become distorted and heavy, shifting to decidedly more chunky and distinctly rhythmic riffage as the song progresses. Keyboards are used throughout, acting more as a tapestry of atmosphere than an actual instrument. The drums set the aforementioned pace, with Edward shifting timings and rhythms fluidly; never once does the rhythm section sound jerky or "disconnected" from the rest of the music -- everything is one whole, cohesion obviously being a key word in the band's camp.
The instrumental tracks are of the same ilk as "The Circle," yet also completely different. I was unsure of how I would take to these, considering Tom isn't present and I really liked his singing ... but much to my surprise (and pleasure), there isn't the slightest bit of detraction.
"What Lies Within," the first track, opens slowly with plodding drums and casually strummed guitars that segue into an acoustic interlude that, in turn, segues back to heaviness. Throughout the song the keys are subdued, lending themselves again to the call of atmosphere. At first the guitars are gentle rain despite the distortion and are backed by a steadily plucked acoustic, and the drums are played accordingly. Then things get taken up a notch, with Faust displaying a surprising amount of versatility on guitar -- he briefly utilizes a mixture of rhythms, shifting smoothly into a short but sweet lead that lends greatly to the already somewhat epic feeling of the song. After the lead we have another build-up that doesn't fail to disappoint when it reaches the crescendo: Faust sets a steady, loping pace on the drums that the guitars follow almost lightheartedly, the acoustic in the background draping the entire section in something of an ethereal cloak -- and then it fades out, and we get to hear "Absolute."
"Absolute" opens with the tinkling of wind-up music box that mellifluously alters into metal: Edward greets us first with drums, then gently strummed notes on guitar, and after some repetition segues into a continual build-up that, toward the end of the song, climaxes with seemingly triumphant keys. Edward utilizes infectious, lead-based rhythms for the majority of the song, yet it never grows redundant -- there is variation betwixt each one, and the progression of each contributes towards the eventual zenith. His drums follow suit, a veritable maelstrom kept in check by a shaky hand -- the snare and toms, the cymbals, and the kicks, all resound quite fully with every strike, and the entirety only offers proof of Faust's skill. The instruments, near the end, cut off and let the music box resume for a brief period ... and then the song itself ends.
It truly was a pleasure to hear these songs. Faust recently informed me that a full line-up will be on the next recording -- and to me, after hearing these songs, that's quite a statement to be making. Faust crafted these three amazing songs on his own, and for him to find a group of fellow musicians whom he deems capable of creating music that will (hopefully) be better or at least equal in greatness to these demo tracks is quite the pleasant surprise. I'm waiting.
These are reviews for "The Circle"
Sounds great! Loving the vocals! Some very intense instrumental skills. Excellent production and hard core arrangement. Overall this is an awesome display of skill and audio art.
This track is somewhat rough (or maybe it's just crappy RealPlayer), but I think it sounds great. The vocals here really blew me away, and the music is rock solid. Love to see what you guys have coming in the future.
