Album Review: Fimbul Winter – What Once Was
Band: Fimbul Winter
Title: What Once Was
Label: Independent
Release date: November 14th, 2025
Country: Sweden
Format reviewed: High-Quality Digital Recording
Album Review: Fimbul Winter – What Once Was by Sílvia
When I knew that three ex-Amon Amarth members had reunited to play music, at first just for fun and after with the intention of releasing music, I was really stoked. Sure that nothing could go wrong, because as a person who is in love with the early albums released by AA, I totally worship that primitive sound… and well, this EP has totally fulfilled my expectations. Or, even more…
Since the name of the band (Fimbul Winter, in reference to the first demo released by Amon Amarth, “The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter”, where founding members Niko Kaukinen and Anders Biazzi were playing), to the title of this EP, “What Once Was” (…’will be soon again’, as they quoted in their social media), all give hints of what you’ll be listening to when you press the “play” button. And the first single released by the band, “Mounds of Stones”, in early October, had that authentic sound that a fan of Swedish Melodic Death Metal can’t resist! Powerful, aggressive, highly melodic… a great preview of what’s to come.
But let’s take it one step at a time. The line up in Fimbul Winter is: Niko Kaukinen – drums; Fredrik Andersson – lead guitar; Anders Biazzi – guitars; Clint Williams – vocals; and Tobias Cristiansson as session bassist.
Well, none of these musicians need an introduction, they all are/have been in many bands and their skills are more than proven (still a bit surprised about Fredrik Andersson playing lead guitar, but yes, he had played this instrument before).
And after this long introduction (sorry not sorry), let’s talk properly about this EP. It contains 5 songs that seem to have arrived in a time capsule, directly from the 90s, with that authentic sound (pure Swedish melodic Death Metal), but with a neat production, so we can appreciate and enjoy every detail in the music with complete clarity. All the drum beats, the double bass, the tremolo riffs, the vibration of the bass, and the harshness of the vocals, all with clear sound, perfectly mixed.
For me, the most remarkable aspect of this album resides in the mastery of blending stunning melodies with a fierce and harsh sound, and the aggression delivered by the vocals. Just like in those glorious years. Familiar riffs are always present, the bass is highly audible and drums are pounding with high intensity. And I love how guitars and bass build what I call a landscape of forgotten memories, that’s their power…
The riffs in this album are infectious, crushing your ears like similar ones did decades ago, but with their own authenticity. They are constantly entwining with drums, usually relentless and aggressive, and the result is a perfect union between energy, powerful melodies, and also an emotional feeling. Lyrics contribute a lot to the moving aspect in this album, they talk about dark themes, like inner struggles, vengeance, the feeling of not belonging, eternal cold and loneliness… Really poignant at times.
Vocals deliver a perfect range of raspy screams, and honestly I think that Williams is the perfect person for this duty. His voice constantly breaks with outbursts of fury, anguish, and extreme sorrow. He does an impeccable performance in all songs. Specially in “A soul that soared”: here, his voice is a mix of rough screams and heartbreaking shrieks. Because of the lyrics of the song: it’s a tribute to a good friend who died too soon, and it contains a spark of light, as his spirit will live forever in their hearts thanks to his music legacy. The melodies in this song have a big emotional burden… It gives me goosebumps.
Some highlights from this album are: the deep emotion that runs through the entire song “What Once Was”; the melodies played by guitars at the beginning of “Mounds of Stones” and the way the song explodes all of a sudden (this is one of the best sudden drums outbursts I’ve ever listened to); also, the guitar solo in this song has a lot of feeling and it’s underlined by powerful drums and a melody in the background that makes me shiver. Which lead us to the grand finale, with orchestrations that enhance an epic feel that was being forged from the beginning. More highlights: the super audible bass in “In Solitude’s Embrace” (Tobias is a great bass player), its vibration builds a special atmosphere in that song, and the orchestral arrangements lead the listener to a fantastic end of the album.
Back in the past, three of the members in Fimbul Winter were playing (not at the same time though) in a band that became worldwide known that has evolved into a very different thing (which makes me sad… but this is something personal). Today, these musicians have recruited new members and are starting a new and brilliant path, full of authenticity, keeping that old flame alive. I couldn’t ask for more. 10/10
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