REVIEW: Neverending Winter - ‘Сеногной’

By: Daniel Jackson

Album Type: EP
Date Released: 28/01/2018
Label: Independent

Their riffs burrow their way into a listener’s soul and take up permanent residence. It’s definitely ugly and miserable, but it’s also memorable to a degree of which few other bands in the style are capable.  My hopes were high for this new EP and I will state unequivocally that there is no band in the underground I feel more strongly about right now than Neverending Winter. The musical pieces are all in place, all that needs to happen from here are people taking notice. 

‘Сеногной’ DD track listing:

1. Новый рассвет (New Dawn)

2. Frost Leash

3. Сеногной (Drizzle-drozzle)

The Review:

Neverending Winter’s previous release, last year’s ‘Хиус’ was an absolute revelation. Its blend of black metal crust and folk made such an impact with me that it ended up on my best of 2017 list. To say that my hopes were high for this new EP would be an understatement, and to say that ‘Сеногной’ exceeds those hopes would be an understatement as well.

An all-too-brief experience at just over 14 minutes, what we have here is masterpiece-level material. Sub-three minute opener “Новый рассвет” builds upon a folkier theme adding heaviness as it goes until it’s blasting climax, the fallout of which blends directly into “Frost Leash”, which takes a different tone altogether.

Equal parts dissonant d-beat thrill ride and decimating breakdowns, the song is a goddamned masterpiece. What makes Neverending Winterso remarkable is their ability to take a style that typically favors nasty production and emotional tone over songwriting and evens the scales. Their riffs burrow their way into a listener’s soul and take up permanent residence. It’s definitely ugly and miserable, but it’s also memorable to a degree of which few other bands in the style are capable.

The second half of ‘Сеногной’ is comprised entirely of the EP’s title track, which takes a more experimental tact, taking the feel of “ Новый рассвет” and putting it in both a more aggressive and progressive context. The song rages and stomps, and then recedes and recuperates. The final minute of the song fades into a reflective and delicate folk, which ends on a strangely calming note for such a tempestuous release.

By all rights, Neverending Winter should be on any compatible label’s radar. Sure the band might be an unknown quantity from a sales standpoint, but from a quality side of the coin, there’s no reason this band shouldn’t be among the most hyped bands in the underground. They’re simply too damned good to be left to the side any longer. If you’re reading this, I’m virtually begging you to give this band a shot. I can’t guarantee you’ll love it as much as I do because nobody can ever guarantee something like that. But I will state unequivocally that there is no band in the underground I feel more strongly about right now than Neverending Winter. The musical pieces are all in place, all that needs to happen from here are people taking notice.

‘Сеногной’ is available here  

Band info: Facebook|| Bandcamp