Empyrium A Wintersunset... [Digipack CD]

Majestic debut album by the duo formed by Schwadorf and Thomas Helm, better known as Empyrium, who astonished the world with “A Wintersunset...”, one of the foundational works within that unique fusion of doom, black metal and folk sensibility that the band would develop with an absolutely unmistakable identity. Originally released in 1996, this first full-length already introduces all the elements that would come to define their sound: expansive compositions, slow tempos and a deeply atmospheric and emotional approach, where guitars, synthesisers and acoustic arrangements intertwine to build soundscapes inspired by nature.

Far removed from any conventional aggression, the album is built upon a hypnotic and contemplative structure, with long pieces that prioritise evocation and melancholy, creating an immersive experience widely recognised in specialised reviews for its emotional depth and its ability to convey beauty and sorrow in equal measure. In contrast to what would follow, “A Wintersunset...” lays the foundations of that distinctive dark romanticism, shaping an essential debut that would mark the beginning of one of the most singular trajectories within European metal.

This limited digipack edition includes the bonus track “The Franconian Woods in Winter's Silence”, recorded live in 2012, as well as an extended booklet.