With all the hot weather rolling in and the temperatures constantly climbing or sustaining, it might be nice if we got nuked with some winter, and Nuclear Winter might have just the recipe with their latest EP release Stormscapes.
The one-man unit from Harare, Zimbabwe (also known as Gary Stautmeister) plays a mix of melodic death metal and industrial that also incorporates some alt-rock. Stormscapes is a continuation from Nuclear Winter’s debut record Night Shift. Heavy on the guitar reverb and synths, as well as plenty of singing and screaming.
Stormscapes opens with “Heart of Stone” decides to ride the wave of heavy and wailing until dialing in a little industrial and from there the song goes. It sounds epic and evokes thoughts of Wintersun, Hypocrisy and Scar Symmetry. Singing vocals sometimes harmonize over the screams, though some passages are also sung.
The second track "The Wide Water" follows in line and keeps the epic feeling going. It's got a speedier start and gets heavy quick. Though this one evokes a more ghostly feeling shortly into it. It's almost like a full moon epic that's shaking loose the dirt of a graveyard.
The third track "The Northern Winds" is a snow-capped winter epic. Like marching through the snow and up a mountain. The mix sounds airy, the guitar is like a battle march and the whole thing is like something out of a fantasy novel. It's the coldest track on the album by far and helps to offset the current heatwave.
The final track is a glorious curveball. A cover of the classic song "New York, New York." That one I'm not spoiling. Dig into it.
Anyone who loves melo-death or industrial will find some good stuff to dig their heels into here. Nuclear Death is a young band and is writing some compelling, epic music.
