Review by Nathan on May 4, 2026.

I recently made a trip to England, primarily because a family member was getting married there, but at the same time, it’s always nice to visit a foreign land and take in its unique culture and landscape. I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with Winterfylleth—an English folk/black metal band whose most recent album, Winterfylleth "The Threnody Of Triumph", had been receiving near-universal praise.

Right away, the genre description piqued my interest, as English folk/black metal has rarely let me down. I’m a big fan of Forefather, and The Meads of Asphodel are cool enough, too, even if I’m not quite as familiar with them. So I had a good attitude and fairly high expectations going into this album.

Thankfully, the “folk” prefix attached to the band doesn’t mean Winterfylleth's "The Threnody Of Triumph" is full of fruity campfire songs, empty-headed sea shanties, or drunken jigs. This is a metal album first and foremost, which is very refreshing in a folk metal world overcrowded with bands like Korpiklaani and Eluveitie, along with people who think those bands aren’t just folk rock with distorted guitars and harsh vocals.

The only thing here reminiscent of “that kind” of folk metal is the occasional clean vocal passage, and even then, it’s very sparse. Much like the aforementioned Forefather, the “folk” element here indicates a more subtle tribute to their homeland, with a grounded sense of pride coming through in the melodies. However, while Forefather often had some rock tendencies in their music, Winterfylleth focuses almost entirely on black metal, with most songs built around extended riff progressions backed by steady blast beats, and mid-paced sections appearing now and then to keep things from becoming too repetitive.

Unfortunately, they don’t really succeed in keeping things fresh.

Winterfylleth rarely steps outside their formula of slightly more melodic-than-average black metal riffs and constant blasting throughout Winterfylleth's "The Threnody Of Triumph", and when they do include an acoustic break or clean vocal passage, it often feels clichéd and somewhat contrived.

That’s not to say an album needs constant variety to be effective. In fact, I usually enjoy records that slowly develop a few strong ideas over longer compositions. The problem is that if you’re only working with a handful of core themes, those themes need to be compelling—and ideally evolve into something greater as the song progresses.

The songs on Winterfylleth's "The Threnody Of Triumph" start off sounding promising enough, but they rely too heavily on atmosphere and texture rather than truly memorable riffs. Worse still, they never really develop into anything more. They end where they begin, offering little reward for sitting through their occasionally bloated runtimes.

To be perfectly blunt, Winterfylleth shares quite a few parallels with Wolves in the Throne Room. They’ve nailed the aesthetic, but there’s very little subtlety underneath. The songs feel less like fully formed compositions and more like exercises in maintaining a specific atmosphere.

The tracks are long—maybe not by black metal standards, but they certainly feel long—and while there’s always something happening, the ideas don’t really develop. Every riff ends up saying the same thing. The band clearly draws from similar influences as Wolves in the Throne Room, and at times, the similarities are hard to ignore. I suppose being European and not wearing plaid makes it easier for some metalheads to overlook that.

Which, in a way, makes sense—because in the end, this album feels like style over substance.

During my trip to England, I spent multiple three-hour train rides crossing the countryside, taking in the landscapes along the way. They were pleasant enough—certainly picturesque—but ultimately a bit plain, and not something I’d rave about to friends afterward.

Fittingly, Winterfylleth's "The Threnody Of Triumph" gives me much the same feeling.

I don’t mind it while it’s on, but nothing stands out. Nothing compels me to return to it. I’d never actively recommend it, and I never feel the urge to revisit it.

Winterfylleth should move somewhere more interesting—because until then, I’m not buying their vision.

(P.S. Despite the underwhelming qualities of the countryside, England’s architecture is genuinely awe-inspiring, and the people in the more rural areas were an absolute pleasure to meet. I’d gladly go back again, and I apologize if that last paragraph offended any Brits reading this. You live in a beautiful place.)

(P.P.S. Your food is still pretty bland, though.)

Rating: 6.1/10