Review by Adam M on May 13, 2020.

Dawn of Solace surprised me with their inventive and interesting take on death metal.  Waves is a melodic and pleasing album that has a moodiness to it that is very appreciable.  The guitar tone is strong and the drumming is spot on.  Aside from that, the vocals are all clean, which is unusual for a melodic death metal album.  The performances make the album crisp and clear and deliver a memorable overall experience. 

There are many solid songs on the album, but “Hiding” had a particularly large impact on me with its catchiness and accessibility.  The album is one that will appeal to a large degree of melodic death metal fans because of a somewhat commercial appeal, but there is a great degree of depth to be found here as well.  There are a lot of atmospheric shifts that show a vibrant chromatic character.  The album is very morose and bleak as well, and this shows in the amount of emotion poured into the work.  It could be improved with more progressive structures, but this is probably the best melodic death metal album the year has seen so far. It is dark, which also further enhances the chromatic feel of the album.  It lives up to some of the works of bands like Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum to become a very interesting part of the genre. With an increased progressive aspect, further territories could be explored and the album could be made even more vibrant. 

As it stands, there is a great deal of melodic capacity and depth to be explored here and melodic death metal fans will be thrilled with this release.  It is not the best album the genre has ever seen, but it is a solid addition to the genre and one fans will appreciate. Prepare to become entranced in Waves.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Review by Felix on April 25, 2020.

Generic Swedish black metal. Isn't it a pleasure to listen to the guys from Scandinavia? Their rich variety inspires me over and over again anew. This also applies in the event of Blackwinds, a duo from Sundsvall, whose second album is called Flesh Inferno. Nevertheless, do not expect an inferno of utter brutality. Besides the fact that Blackwinds are deeply rooted in the black genre, they also offer some almost melancholic sections. Generally speaking, the band seems to be stimulated by legends such as Dissection, Setherial or Dimmu Borgir during their "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant" period. (Okay, decide for yourself whether you would like to call Setherial and Dimmu Borgir legends.)

The raw, demonic lead vocals are embraced by sinister guitar lines that rely on melodic elements and biting cold. Occasionally, mysterious keyboards add a haunting background melody and in extremely rare cases, they gain the upper hand against the guitars. The drums do their job in an experienced manner and fast parts alternate with mid-paced sections. Both band members have a lot of experience and due to the high level of musicianship, the suitable number of tempo variations does not damage the flow of the individual song. Finally, the Swedish guys do not destroy their creativity by releasing an album that suffers from an insufficient production. Instead, Flesh Inferno sounds powerful, not too modern and - in a positive sense - emotionless. Representatives of the filthiest underground will call it polished. I beg to differ. Here are experts at work, although a song like 'Conceptualizing the Devil' reveals their Dimmu Borgir influence in a pretty obvious manner. Its whirlwind-like keyboard line at the beginning is treacherous. Anyway, this is a great song with interesting keyboard lines and impulsive speed parts which does not lack of power and dynamic. Its degree of intensity makes it clear once again that black metal is based on passion and dedication. The two dudes of Blackwinds do not need to hide themselves in this context.

The ten songs are of the same breed and they create an even surface. They do not lack of dramatic sequences, spooky lines and negativity. Relatively hymnal parts are also integrated, but they are of minor relevance. Sharp critics will say that Blackwinds are not highly original. I agree, but many other bands have failed to walk on well paved paths, while the members of Blackwinds use the proven tools without any difficulty. Among other things, the dudes shine with carefully constructed pinpoint breaks. The haunting 'Seraphim Ephemera', to quote just one example, demonstrates the strength of the band to increase the dynamic and intensity by equipping the song with some unexpected twists and turns. Better still, the album avoids any filler tracks.

Flesh Inferno is not a masterpiece, but a very good album of mid-harsh black metal. Its melodic and gruff elements are well balanced. It would be a lie to say that a shiver runs down my spine when I listen to the highlights, for example the two aforementioned pieces or the sinister flowing title track. Nevertheless, these strong tunes may have the power to convince you of the quality of Flesh Inferno.

Rating: 8 out of 10