Swedish death metal newcomers FIMBUL WINTER have released a new standalone single, 'Crowned In Ash', forging a sound that is heavy, melodic and atmospheric.
The project consists of original AMON AMARTH members Niko Kaukinen on drums, Anders Biazzi (formerly Anders Hansson) on guitar, Fredrik Andersson on lead guitar, and Clint Williams on vocals.
With "Crowned In Ash", FIMBUL WINTER embarks on greater exploration and development of melodic death metal, drawing from their knowledge and experience in AMON AMARTH, and expanding further their artistic boundaries.
The single emerges from the flames in an enticing soundscape infused with intriguing melodic leads, driving rhythms taking precedence to push the track's momentum forward while guitar leads continue to entwine across the instrumental layers and Williams's monstrous vocals are unleashed above.
The band states: "There was never a question of what we should sound like.
We've been shaping this sound/genre for decades.
This is in our DNA." A forceful and energetic presence pervades the choruses in "Crowned In Ash".
The fast pace lessens its grip to allow the progressions and vocal performance the space to land with thunderous impact.
FIMBUL WINTER ensures the track's main riff remains compelling and constant throughout, while deploying enveloping, shifting dynamics throughout the musical arrangement.
Drums and guitars on "Crowned In Ash" were recorded at Studio Fluff Vasteras with engineer Andreas Moren while vocals were recorded at Witching Hour Audio and engineered by Shaun Farrugia.
Risa Andersson contributed bass performance on the single and mixing and mastering was completed by Marko Tervonen at Studio-MT.
The cover artwork for "Crowned In Ash" was created by Katarzyna Urbanek.
With roots dating back to a spontaneous reunion performing AMON AMARTH's 1994 demo titled 'The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter', FIMBUL WINTER formed in 2023 building upon their roots and the members' legacies in Swedish death metal, with FIMBUL WINTER's beginnings growing from a desire to create something new that captured the essence of Swedish death metal in an updated style.
Regarding how FIMBUL WINTER came together, the band said: "The idea started with Niko wanting to play the demo 'The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter', which he recorded over 30 years ago, at his 50th-birthday party.
Fredrik thought it sounded like fun and offered to play the guitar.
After that Anders was asked to join in and then with the addition of friends Linus Nirbrant on bass and Clint on vocals, a selected amount of friends got to experience this unique lineup and hear the tracks that once laid the foundation to what was to become.