Winterfylleth
The Hallowing of Heirdom

Hawes is a charming little village in North Yorkshire. You wouldn’t consider it unless you're a hiking enthusiast, and even then there might be better places to visit. Nevertheless, it is populated by tourists who swarm along the village's one (notable) street, ducking in and out of tea rooms, outdoor equipment shops, and pubs. The dark stones with which all the houses are built may seem poor, rough, cold, but for those who love these places, they convey a reassuring sense of "home". But Hawes has another ace up its sleeve, which perhaps not everyone appreciates and knows, but it makes you love and remember it even after years. If while walking you decide to leave the center, in a few minutes you are immersed in the green and cheerful countryside of Yorkshire: as you move away from the paved road and enter the Penine Way, it feels like you're in a world apart, a balm for your spirit. In July, in this area of England, it is not at all cold, but as you know, the British weather is a jester, making you believe you can dress lightly only to surprise you with sudden, though never too heavy, rains. The wind blows gently brushing the grass, which, where it hasn't been grazed by cows and sheep, reaches up to your knee. Around you, pastures of sheep chewing placidly, emitting bleats that echo across the valley; swallows and other birds fly between the tree branches that line the dry stone walls, but watch where you walk! You might inadvertently stumble into some hare burrow... There they are, darting at high speed as you continue on your path.
Where are we going? Oh right, Hardraw Force, the waterfalls: ten minutes of walking in these fields and I've already forgotten why I'm here, it's so lovely to wander and let this peace embrace me! After passing through a wooden gate, you come to a river, spanned by a bridge (also obviously made of stone) under which barefoot children play. Tell me, what era are we in?! Is it really 2016?! You lose track of how much time you spend watching the kids play, then you remember that it's almost five in the afternoon, and maybe it's time to reach that blessed waterfall. You finally reach the paved road, in front of you some cottages and a pub, right next to the entrance to Hardraw Force... which of course is closed! We arrived late, but is it really a problem? We look around, decide that it’s time to enter that delightful stone pub: inside, there’s an idyllic atmosphere, dark and powerful walls warmed by the flames crackling in the fireplace, while the beers we hold shimmer with freshness and effervescence.
We go outside, sit at the tables, breathe and listen: no sound different from the bleats, the birds flying, the river breathing nearby, no passing cars, only the distant laughter of the pub-goers. We finish our beers and set off again towards Hawes, with the sun already setting.
What was the purpose of this walk without a precise objective? Everything and nothing, surely it made us understand that life is lived step by step, path by path, and even if we do not reach the set goal, perhaps along the way we have lived experiences far more important than what we could have obtained otherwise.
"The Hallowing of Heirdom" by the English band Winterfylleth is exactly this, a peaceful walk in the Yorkshire countryside, for no reason, just a contemplation and a "taking part" in the splendid nature surrounding you. There are no surprises in this album, the tracks flow placidly between a guitar arpeggio and a distant choir, but watch out! Do not expect an atmospheric black album as we've been accustomed to by the band! With this album, the English strip down their music, remove the armor, and lay bare the love they have for the places where they live and the legacies left to them. No blast beats, no furious screams, just string instruments, winds, percussion, and voices never so evocative. An essential chapter in the discography of Winterfylleth, a work that must be faced without expectations, with calmness, it needs to mature and grow, it should cradle the listener and win them over with tiny surprises. Indeed, the other side of the coin of their music, and for this reason deserving of consideration.