OCTAVIA SPERATI – Winter Enclosure

Hey, it seems British Candlelight Records have landed a big fish! Winter Enclosure of Norwegian female sextet OCTAVIA SPERATI offers an absolutely convincing debut album that should please all fans of atmospheric yet melodic and dark fare.
It’s quite difficult to label the bands stylistic. Elements of Gothic metal can be found equally with Doom metal. And this record is kicking ass! The mixture is alright so I’d like to describe the sound with The Gathering’s Strange Machine meets Madder Mortem meets old The 3rd And The Mortal.
I also don’t mind that the strongest song on this album Lifelines Of Depth (incl. intro) opens this piece. This song is just wonderful and relentlessly mills into every convolution of the listeners brain with its mesmerizing melodies and enticing vocals. Just for this song Winter Enclosure is worthwhile to get bought!
Although not all of the songs are blessed with a transcendental beauty, it’s worth your money. Future Is for example, where the girls spontaneously floor the throttle in the middle of the song and stylistically get out of line, but integrate the bludgeoning parts well. And the closing double Without Air (Before + After), that firstly captivates with a quiet and melancholic prevailing mood, till mighty riffs build up a monumentally doomy atmosphere. Another one has to be the second track Soundless, which sounds quite cumbersome at the beginning but grows with every run and completely convinces at the end.
All remaining tracks have great guitar melodies, well-suiting keyboard and piano tunes as well as great singing in common. Production is transparent and crispy. Winter Enclosure never gets boring. 8.5 points for OCTAVIA SPERATI, isn’t too high-rated I think. Those who appreciate sophisticated but catchy fare from Norway shouldn’t miss it!