New Zealand often gets lumped in with the Australian scene, what I think is unfairly. They have a share of decent bands in New Zealand, and this is one of them. Windswept play rather melodic black metal that definitely takes its influence from the Norwegian gods, particularly Satyricon circa Nemesis Divina (at least that's what my ears make of it). They have a similar anthemic melodic approach even when they're blasting. The problem is I don't much like the recording - it's too clean. While it's very natural-sounding, it's pristinely recorded which isn't how I want much of my black metal to sound. I want it to be ugly, in your face, but all instruments still audible. Rough and rugged is the way, and this isn't so much. However, this is nitpicky. Sometime that stands way out is the frantic and frenzied vocal performance of Rachel Collins, their singer. She's a fuckin' beast and even has the look a black metal singer should have. Her vocals are some of the most filthy I've heard in black metal for a while, raspy screams that exude metalized blood. Apart from that there are some standout riffs and solid playing by all, and some great guitar harmonies. I just wish this was a bit dirtier-sounding, like I often do with modern black metal.
