Winterfylleth

Winterfylleth are a black metal group from Manchester, United Kingdom. Formed in 2006 and active since 2007, the band draws on atmospheric black metal, melodic black metal, pagan black metal, dark folk and black metal, and is associated with UK black metal. The current line-up is Simon Lucas, Christopher Naughton, Mark Wood, Nick Wallwork and Mark Deeks.

Background

The group takes its name from the Old English word “Winterfylleth”, meaning “Winter Full Moon”, a term linked to the first full moon of winter, usually in October. Winterfylleth describe their work as “English Heritage Black Metal” and are often linked with fellow English black metal band Wodensthrone because of shared lyrical and aesthetic themes.

Releases and development

The band issues a demo, Rising of the Winter Full Moon, in 2007 and signs to Profound Lore Records for its debut album, The Ghost of Heritage, released in 2008. That record brings the band wider attention in the English black metal scene. Richard Brass, also a member of Wodensthrone, then leaves, and Chris Naughton and Simon Lucas are joined by Nick Wallwork and Mark Wood, forming the line-up that remains in place until 2015.

Winterfylleth move to Candlelight Records for The Mercian Sphere in 2010, which is named album of the month by Terrorizer and later placed twentieth in the magazine’s end-of-year list. Their third album, The Threnody of Triumph, appears in 2012 and again receives strong critical attention, including another Terrorizer album-of-the-month notice, a 15th-place year-end ranking from the magazine, and 12th place in Kerrang!’s list for that year.

Collaborations, touring and festivals

In 2013 Winterfylleth tour with Enslaved on seventeen dates of the group’s Spring Rite European run. They also play major metal festivals including Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, Graspop and Bloodstock Open Air, and later return to Graspop Metal Meeting before making a Summer Breeze Open Air debut.

In 2014 the band releases a split EP with Ukrainian black metal group Drudkh, Thousands of Moons Ago / The Gates, featuring cover versions of music that has influenced both acts. They also appear on the compilation One And All, Together, For Home, which gathers folk songs recorded by metal bands including Primordial, Kampfar and Drudkh.

Later albums and awards

The Divination of Antiquity is planned for release in 2014, followed by The Dark Hereafter in 2016, with the track “Ensigns of Victory” issued in advance. In 2015 the band receives the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award for best underground band. The Hallowing of Heirdom appears in 2018 as an acoustic album, followed by live performances at one-off events in historical venues. Dan Capp of Wolcensmen plays guitar from 2016, and Russell Dobson of Necronautical later replaces him in 2021. Winterfylleth’s seventh album, The Reckoning Dawn, is released in 2020.