Style: atmospheric black metal
Thoughts: I have a lot of black metal in my collection, to the point where I've become more selective on what I add in. A record either has to be something I've been looking for or the band has to impress me to the point where I feel like they deserve a spot in the record stacks. It's this second option that we find Widertod in.
Anemoia does not contain any novel ideas, nor does it do anything in a completely unique fashion. It is black metal through and through, played to the strength of the genre. This is where the band truly finds themselves at their best though. They play straight forward black metal yes, but they do it better than most in the genre.
This is the classic example of the genre being played at the absolute highest level. The riffs on Anemoia are intense, melodic, and create a dense atmosphere. The way that all of these things come together is exceptional. The riffs fill the air with a majestic presence. The vocals guide them through the twists and turns. The drums provide a backing that is both competent yet does not distract from the atmosphere the riffs provide. There are quiet moments in between the songs where a violin will play or wind blows, a small touch that gives the songs a sense of belonging together.
Anemoia is an excellent album. Not original, yet still excellent. If more bands took their black metal art as seriously as these guys did when it comes to writing good riffs and songs I think the genre would be in a much better place. Looking forward to seeing where these guys end up taking their sound in the future.
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