A rising force on the Austrian black metal scene, Hellsaw’s aptly named Cold is a fine wintry blast of orthodox wrath. Readers will need little description of the rapid tremolo riffing and hoarse vocal styles that form the launching pad here, but there is enough innovation to distinguish it amongst the blackened hordes, and indeed this is an album with plenty of character in its own right.

I am reminded of the unsung Enthroned at various points here. Hellsaw have a knack for the moments of imperious melody that add serious class to albums like Prophecies of Pagan Fire. It adds depth and breath to an potentially fatiguing sound, and results in some of Cold’s highpoints, such as Der Harzwald. A Suicide Journey is the clear signal here. A lengthy folky acoustic intro gives way to a galloping black epic that rapidly shifts between differently-angled snowy vistas, with the same glowing acoustic lines resurfacing at various points, keeping an 8 minute song alive. On further listens, however, there is a lot more than this going on. Listen to I Saw Hell; possessed of a true headbanger of a mid-tempo groove and an instantly memorable vitriolic vocal refrain, it also dabbles in angular, almost post-punkish lead riffs, culminating in something really quite original. Ache is another standout; with a deep, dark percussive rumble and belched vocals providing magnificent counterpoint to gentler, abstractly beautiful guitar harmonising. Other notable elements include Psycho Pastor, making use of of eerie samples in a manner reminiscent of Funeral Mist, although this is much less filthily deranged than that project.

These oddities are worthwhile in their own right, but their real function is bringing to life the orthodox basis of Cold. The blasting riffs, whilst being the main element of the band’s character, are not the only element, and as such they are appreciated all the more. The production is pretty good, giving the band a relatively rich, deep tone, and the instrumental performances are strong. Aries’s vocals are impressive too; negotiating smoothly between an eerie shriek and a deeper growl.

So this is an album of hidden depths. They’ve recently been supporting Shining and you can see a definite resemblance; Hellsaw too have a penchant for subtler ideas in black metal. Perhaps the biggest achievement of the album is demonstrating further that black metal can be forward-thinking and original without necessarily turning to prog or post-rock influences. Worth your time.