Dear Soundville listeners and readers,

Today we are listening to and enjoying the impressive prog-metal album ‘EGO’ by Winterblind. What is truly remarkable is that when you first listen to Winterblind, made up of Fabian Villarroel Benitez, Felix De Rycker, Jan Kennes, Nathaniel Mon Pere, you immediately sense how power, passion, and energy merge into something grand and completely break any stereotypes. Winterblind mix prog-metal, funk, and, which is especially important for ‘EGO’, pain. The album is built around a significant conceptual theme that, I believe, is relevant to everyone. I think it’s worth pausing here, because in each of the six tracks, Winterblind put in a sense and resistance from the struggle a person can experience both outwardly and internally, in their soul. The album raises important questions of pride and the desire to be seen, and how the fragility of the self can either break or, on the contrary, transform under the influence of these feelings.

What is most surprising about ‘EGO’ is that Winterblind are not trying to change or prove anything, or to make this resistance and struggle into something that must necessarily be stopped. ‘EGO’ is about acceptance, merging with these parts of life, which ultimately leads to peace, calm, and liberation. Acceptance as a way forward is a very subtle psychological moment, and I feel there is no better genre than prog and punk to talk about this important element of life on the way to healing.

The album’s length is remarkable, allowing every aspect of this state to be fully conveyed. You can sense it immediately in the opener, ‘Alleen Mor Steirve’, which bursts in like a bolt from the blue, instantly disconnecting you from whatever emotions or thoughts you had at that moment and immersing you completely in the world of ‘EGO’. I really appreciate the track’s composition, how its dynamics, style, and energy shift from piercing heavy riffs and incredibly powerful drums to more subdued moments. This creates a rich texture and makes ‘Alleen Mor Steirve’ truly memorable. Next comes ‘I AM ME’. Here, it feels like nothing is holding Winterblind back, the sound unfolds like a bird spreading its wings, fully capturing each moment. The vocals are vivid, stylish, and elusive, always moving forward and channeling the same energy that floods your mind during an inner struggle.

I want to highlight the complexity of ‘EGO’ both musically and technically. The album is constantly shifting, like a hurricane, surging forward, then pulling back, only to return with even greater force. This lets you feel every emotion and every word from Winterblind, making ‘EGO’ more than just a rock album. ‘Fossil’ begins in a mystical, unusual, and unique way, with what sound like ambient interludes and uneasy guitar tones. This builds the atmosphere at the album’s midpoint, intensifying the sense of confinement and hypnosis. The feeling of isolation within your own thoughts in ‘Fossil’ becomes almost physically tangible. Achieving this is no easy feat, but it seems Winterblind know the secret to music that gets under your skin and turns your soul inside out. The incredibly complex and striking rhythmic patterns in ‘Distraction Waltz’ create a sense of losing control, flashes of movement, and raw energy. The outstanding vocals, shifting into scream, are captivating and let every bar fully unfold. This is an absolutely stunning and remarkable track. I have to admit, it’s one of my favorite songs on ‘EGO’ thanks to its incredible and truly knockout chorus.

Then comes ‘Cult Broker’. The atmosphere clears, like after a thunderstorm, and the air feels charged, almost like ozone filling your lungs and throat. This sensation intensifies with each bar of ‘Cult Broker’, making it the perfect lead-in to the finale of ‘EGO’. I like how the vocals take on more melodic pop-rock motifs, while the harmonies soar up octaves, giving chills with their mystical sound and unusual tone. The album closes with ‘Keep Posing’, an elusive, powerful, and groovy track that offers neither release nor a sense of closure. Pain and resistance remain. Listening to ‘Keep Posing’, I couldn’t shake the feeling that these states have simply become part of the self, breaking it, changing it, and merging with the mind.

The main lyrical character has found freedom. On another level, stepping away from the conceptual weight, ‘Keep Posing’ is an incredibly cool album closer that turns up the heat to unbelievable levels. I can easily imagine just how intense and exhilarating Winterblind’s live performances with ‘EGO’ must be. That was incredibly cool, stylish, and absolutely unforgettable. I hope you enjoyed listening to and experiencing the album as much as I did, so make sure to add your favorite tracks to your playlist and follow Winterblind so you don’t miss out on even more great and conceptual music. This is truly a band worth keeping an eye on, they’re sure to deliver even more amazing releases. This was fantastic!

Hello, Winterblind! Thank you for releasing such flawless music. Your album ‘EGO’ is powerful, stylish, and incredibly cool. I got chills more than once, it was just something absolutely extraordinary. I feel so much strength, energy, and inspiration here, and listening to your music makes me want to replay the album again and again. This was really cool. I’ll definitely share your album with everyone I know. Let them experience this amazing music too. It’s seriously groovy and unreal. I’m your fan, I love it, and I want more!

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With much love,
Soundville