The self-titled Winterlong is the third release from this group of twenty-something headbangers from Europe. Guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Lars Thorbjörn Englund again writes all the tunes and has a hand in the arrangements on the 44-minute-and-24-second onslaught of sound, an 11-song collection that has its pluses and minuses. It appears from Englund’s own website (www.thorbjornenglund.com) that Winterlong presents a somewhat revamped ensemble — essentially “Thobbe” (Englund) and vocalist Mikael Holm generating new sounds with bass supplied by Erik Tornberg. The music crunches at a fast pace on a composition like “Ragnarök,” which follows the light and very satisfying instrumental “A Vision of the Wolf.” This is a small but very musical crew, and if they integrate more of their rather technically proficient sounds with the head-knocking on future releases, Winterlong may evolve into an international contender. As complex and riveting as “Bloodshred” is, there is only so much speed metal one can take in a sitting. When a ballad like “Demise” follows, it truly shows the unit’s strengths. A runaway rocker like “Oblivion” has that symphonic guitar style the group Boston perfected, only it comes at you at 90 miles per hour with consequences. The assault can be a bit much, and limiting. “The End of the Longest Winter” concludes the album, an excellent and moody moment which, at one minute and four seconds, is much too brief. – Joe Viglione
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