Consistently being the inherent epitome of a harsh menacing winter and presenting ever-enigmatic themes that have to do with the void of darkness and the subconscious, the Switzerland-bound Paysage d’Hiver has been around for quite some time playing inclement Ambient Black Metal with a low-fidelity raw production, while also incorporating elements of a myriad of associated styles, being Funeral Doom Metal, Dungeon Synth, and Drone.

As a one-man project initiated by Wintherr, he’s in charge of every instrument while switching back and forth from acoustic settings to programmed drums. 

Paysage d’Hiver is releasing a third full-length via Kunsthall Produktionen entitled Die Berge, which means “The Mountains” in German. Through the raw and lo-fi styled Ambient Black Metal that he plays, he aims to envisage the essence of his home country in Switzerland, which mostly contains seemingly idyllic mountains – though in reality, it may be darker than it seems; with malevolent tectonic forces and cold crusts building up a hostile environment to mankind and its surroundings. 

Staying powerful with its strong sense of danger and threat, Die Berge consists of mostly over 10-minute long tracks – except for the fourth one – which sums up to over 100 minutes in total. Building nuances adjacent to the winter world of darkness and ice, Paysage d’Hiver meticulously crafts continuous narratives regarding the deep lore of a mysterious protagonist called “Der Wanderer.” 

As a project whose recurring themes are closely inclined towards the astral world and the bleak winter, Die Berge tells the 14th chapter of Der Wanderer as its main theme – surrounding the journey that the said enigmatic wanderer goes through; one that is comparable to that of a Zen monk hiking to a mountaintop contemplating the premonitions of his death.

I’ve listened to a lot of Ambient/Atmospheric Black Metal acts before, but this one kind of leaves a long-lasting, solid impression on me. 

Forcefully abrasive and staying true to an ethereal raw production style, Paysage d’Hiver envisages transcendence in its purest form: existing beyond the borders of the conscious and the tangible. I also think that the consistent branding and narrative surrounding the winter world help make the ambience of their music indestructible. Think of Deathspell Omega, but with Xasthur-esque influences. 

Buy the album here:
https://lnk.spkr.media/paysagedhiver-berge

9 / 10
RALKA SKJERSETH
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