It is hard for me to talk about this album, because the sixth CD coming from the Finnish heroes CATAMENIA is rather art than music for me and it is rather impossible to describe art as we all know. My expectations were immeasurable after the two predecessors Eskhata and ChaosBorn. CATAMENIA is able to comply and outdo these requirements! Not to some extent I could name one song as average, my metallic nerves are totally stricken for nine times and enthuse me.
Winternight Tragedies starts with the outstanding melody of the opener The Heart Of Darkness, which combines Nordic fury with feelingly lead guitars. The chorus puts the lid on top of this kinglike composition. It is really impressing how singer O.J. Mustonen is using his vocal chords – simply rousing how he is able to shriek and hiss. Sometimes a clear voice is flashing through and so the refrains get an additional pinch of ingenuity. I rarely listened to a CD all being perfect from the beginning to the end, I would describe Winternight Tragedies sounding of similar quality as Naglfar’s Vittra album, the melodies are overwhelming and every song causes gooseflesh, so that I can only sit quietly in admiration or bang around in enthusiasm. It is going on in a sensational way with Verikansa, a jewel sung in Finnish, with a melody for eternity, flogging forward and disemboguing into a chorus, which never will leave my memory again. I want to listen to this song when I am buried, it is lofty and pugnacious. Whenever the choir sets in, the tears are flowing – what an experience!
CATAMENIA is able to play with infernal speed, but the whole playtime they put in guitar melodies which arouse the listeners' attention. Cleverly, the speed is loosened up by some breathers which are of the same importance as rapid attacks in my opinion. The next portion of fortune hormones floods over me with The Crystal Stream, the Finns should be consecrated for their talent creating such beautiful melodies as if it would be the easiest thing on earth. Some well-chosen keyboard parts elaborate the songs. Some other highlights are the following: My Blood Stained Path and Iced Over (creating thick gooseflesh!). There is also a cover version of Satyricon’s Fuel For Hatred, but I think this song is dispensable, I do not judge it because it is not a CATAMENIA composition.
For me, Winternight Tragedies is an album full of anthems, full of great guitar work and refrains, a CD to enjoy, a sidereal hour of ice-cold Nordic Metal!!! My personal rating scale is blasted, 10+ is not enough! I recommend this album to all of you, the Winternight Tragedies do not only bring fine winter nights, but sweeten your life at any time!