Written by: Kurtis Bradimore
It's very rare to have an album so disgustingly heavy with emotion and angst that it brings a tear to your eye. Everything from dreadful hopelessness, agony, despair, and everything in between; This EP from Vintertodt is exactly as the name suggests; This is "Pure Fucking Hatred" in it's finest form.
Written and recorded by Neil “Kneel" Schneider with the help of Nick Rossi (vocals) and Lord Marco (drums) pure fucking hatred is the perfect example of what modern black metal should be. I've known Neil for a few years now, first discovering him through his satirical hardcore outlet xSpongeXcoreX. After listening to his debut EP for his separate depressive/doom/black metal outlet Diplegia, I was very excited to be given the opportunity to review his latest installment into the realm of evil.
I have never really dived deep into the black metal genre/subgenres. However, in my early high school days I would occasionally listen to some behemoth or berzum, just for the unique and powerful emotion the music portrays. I remember most of the recording production sounded like it was recorded through a Nokia phone in a wind tunnel. I was pleasantly surprised (but not really with Neil,) that the production value of this EP was incredible. The drums are heavy and thick, guitars pierce through the strings, the screams resonate perfectly with the other instruments, all while maintaining a raw, hateful black metal ambience.
Part 1 of the EP begins with a melancholic strings section, similar to what I imagine plays as the gates of hell welcome a fallen angel. An eruption of emotional horror occurs as blast beats and shrieking screams pierce through the strings. The pure intensity of the screams alone was enough to completely sell me. The constant blast beats leave little to no breathing room as the tracks progress. The first track follows a consistent, insanely fast beat and chord progression. The advanced layering of guitar and synth tones, coupled with the blast beats and dynamic screams create an immense wall of sound. There isn’t one moment in the track that isn't completely eclectic with force. The emotion, energy and pure fucking hatred presented would make for an absolutely insane live performance.
Part 2 starts with an atmospheric and interminable guitar riff, building anticipation for the inevitable break. Persistent double bass kicks keep the beat while unholy screams coupled with powerful strings and guitars drive the rhythm. The occasional use of low toned, growling vocals create an eerie atmosphere to the track. The continuous force Marco has behind the drums is impressive. Constant, powerful double bass hits drive the rhythm while a variation of fills peaked interest during the transitions. The progression of tones in the guitar evokes a range emotion as the song continues before ultimately, fading to conclusion.
Overall, I found this EP to be an adventure from beginning to end. The sheer emotion, intensity and rawness of the tracks put me in a deep trance while listening. I felt the theatrical essence of listening to it front to back to be very satisfying. I would highly recommend this EP to any fans of black metal or anyone looking to experience the pure fucking hatred this masterpiece has to offer.
You can keep up with Vintertodt and be sure to check out Neil’s other projects Diplegia and xspongexcorex .
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