1349 – Winter Mass (Live)
1349 – Winter Mass (Live)
Season Of Mist
28/11/2025
Review by Oli Gonzalez
6/10
Norway’s 1349 have earned a fearsome reputation for their solid live performances, and via Season Of Mist are offering the chance to experience this in the shape of their upcoming live album “Winter Mass”.
Once the introduction is done, the music kicks off with ‘Sculptor Of Flesh’. Here, the band’s unfiltered energy is captured in this fast-paced number. The momentum continues into ‘Slaves’ and ‘Through Eyes Of Stone’, with more blistering assaults on the senses. Vocalist Ravn demonstrates versatility beyond his traditional ever-present concoction of fierce growls and shrieks by introducing some cleaner vocal passages in ‘Slaves’.
Things slow down considerably at the beginning of ‘Cauldron’. A much welcome respite before normal service is resumed with more old school fast-paced Black Metal!
“Striding The Chasm!”
A simple and succulent introduction to the next song by Ravn. Seems like an opportunity wasted to introduce the song in more detail to the live crowd there and build a deeper connection with the listeners at home. It makes you wonder what the purpose of a live recording is at this point.
Another moment of reflection and relative ambience at the beginning of ‘Chasing Dragons’, coming from the earlier days of the band’s existence, whilst ‘Serpentine Siblance’ offers more of a glimpse into the slower, more bludgeoning approach the band occasionally take to their music.
‘I Am Abomination’ represents some of 1349’s finest work from the 2005 release “Hellfire”. The live mix gives this classic the respect it deserves.
Whereas ‘Golem’ remains south of 2 minutes in length, ‘Atomic Chapel’ is a longer effort and more of an expensive, Progressive exploration of various textures and compositional dynamics within 8minutes. A bit of variety that was welcome.
So, having seen 1349 live, I can attest to them being an absolute juggernaut on stage, and a must-see act for lovers of Black Metal. Though “Winter Mass” offers some glimpses into this, the live album just feels more like a random collection of hits rather than capturing a unique moment in time. What exactly makes this set special? A question I pose but cannot answer. Take Cult Of Fire’s 2024 performance at Brutal Assault with the Bohemian Synphony Orchestra. That’s something I’d love to have been captured on record. Or Ozzy Osbourne’s bittersweet farewell show at Villa Park. Another that should be immortalised in digital form. 1349’s “Winter Mass” just doesn’t feel that special, sadly.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Enter Inferno
02. Sculptor of Flesh
03. Slaves
04. Through Eyes of Stone
05. Cauldron
06. Striding the Chasm
07. Chasing Dragons
08. Serpentine Sibilance
09. I Am Abomination
10. Golem
11. Atomic Chapel
12. Dodskamp
13. Abyssos Antithesis
LINKS:
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