Winterfylleth

ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH, LONDON

It’s quite the sight: a hundred or so metalheads (some in seriously necro shirts) attending church on a Friday night. And while it can be assumed that most aren’t believers, they’re here to worship at the altar of Winterfylleth. But these centuries-old walls aren’t shaking with savage black metal; we’re witnessing a unique acoustic performance, leaning on new album The Hallowing Of Heirdom. The core band has expanded to nine members tonight, including cellist Jo Quail who performed earlier, and it sounds stunning. The building’s acoustics carry the music to new heights and lend Chris Naughton’s voice an earthy quality, complementing his tales of ye olde English folklore. Tossing in oldies like When The Woods Were Young, this is still a celebration of a new season dawning on the rich countryside of Winterfylleth. The standing ovation is well-deserved, although it’s hard to see where the new sound will fit into the band’s usual live fare, as it’s a completely different beast. Let’s hope we can travel back to the land of witches and stone circles soon.