The Mercian Sphere is the second studio album by the English black metal band Winterfylleth, released on 12 July 2010 through Candlelight Records. It was made after Winterfylleth regrouped in 2009 and was the band's first collaboration with Candlelight Records. It contains Anglo-Saxon lyrical subjects and influences from folk music.
The black metal band Winterfylleth formed in Manchester in 2007 by the drummer Simon Lucas and vocalist and guitarist Chris Naughton. The band released its debut album The Ghost of Heritage through Profound Lore Records in 2008.[1] Between the first and second album, the band replaced its bass guitarist, who attracted attention from antifascists for posts on his Myspace page where he used the phrases "wpww"—short for "White Pride World Wide"—and "14w"—referring to the Fourteen Words slogan of the American neo-Nazi David Lane. This prompted a festival in Manchester to cancel a Winterfylleth performance and the band to change its line-up.[2] Regrouped in 2009, the band consisted of Naughton on guitar and vocals, Lucas on drums, Nick Wallwork on bass and Mark Wood on guitar.[3]
Music and recording
Winterfylleth signed with the bigger label Candlelight Records to release its second album The Mercian Sphere. The Mercian Sphere was the first Winterfylleth album to feature Caroline Lucas on violin, on the instrumental track "Children of the Stones".[1] The album features a trilogy of songs called "The Wayfarer", which were inspired by the Old English poem "The Wanderer", preserved in the 10th-century Exeter Book.[4] The album was recorded at Foel Studios and produced by Chris Fielding.[5]
Release
Candlelight Records released The Mercian Sphere on 12 July 2010.[6] The liner notes say the album is "dedicated to all those who are actively involved with the preservation of our great ancestral heritage, history, folklore and rich national culture".[4] Winterfylleth was featured on the cover of the music magazine Zero Tolerance in conjunction with the release.[4] In 2020, Candlelight Records released a tenth-anniversary edition with new cover art and a booklet with extended liner notes. Winterfylleth released a lyric video for the song "A Valley Thick with Oaks" for this occasion.[7]
Reception
Comparing The Mercian Sphere to The Ghost of Heritage, the scholar Karl Spracklen says it is "more ambiguous in its lyrics about race and nation, though it is still mainly about Anglo-Saxon men fighting for England".[1] Alex Henderson of AllMusic says the album succeeds in combining melody and harmony with the aggression expected from the black metal genre. He says it incorporates elements of European folk music without becoming folk metal, although is likely to be dismissed by "black metal purists", who consider melodic black metal to be watered down rather than nuanced.[8]Metal.de's Yannick says Winterfylleth stands out within its genre due to its less martial and more serious image, reflected in a musical seriousness on The Mercian Sphere, and highlights the passages inspired by folk music, which provide atmosphere to the songs.[6]
Track listing
Adapted from The Mercian Sphere's Bandcamp page.[9]
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Gateway to the Dark Peak / The Solitary One Waits for Grace (The Wayfarer Pt I)"
07:05
2.
"Awakens He, Bereft of Kinsmen (The Wayfarer Pt II)"
07:25
3.
"The Fields of Reckoning"
05:33
4.
"Children of the Stones"
04:45
5.
"The Ruin"
06:52
6.
"The Honour of Good Men on the Path to Eternal Glory"
10:17
7.
"To Find Solace... Where Security Stands (The Wayfarer Pt III)"
^ abcSpracklen, Karl (2020). Metal Music and the Re-imagining of Masculinity, Place, Race and Nation. Bingley: Emerald Publishing. pp. 153, 156. ISBN978-978-1-83867-5.
^Spracklen, Karl (2017). "Developing a Cultural Theory of Music Making and Leisure: Baudrillard, the Simulacra, and Music Consumption". In Mantie, Roger; Smith, Gareth Dylan (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Music Making and Leisure. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 286. ISBN978-0-19-024470-5.
^"Winterfylleth Signs With Candlelight Records". Blabbermouth.net. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
^ abcDeeks, Mark (2016). National Identity in Northern and Eastern European Heavy Metal (PhD). University of Leeds. pp. 124–126. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^Dick, Chris (14 November 2012). "Chris Naughton (Winterfylleth) interviewed". Decibel. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
^ abYannick (12 July 2010). "Winterfylleth - The Mercian Sphere" (in German). Metal.de. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
^"Winterfylleth Release Lyric Video 'A Valley Thick With Oaks' to Celebrate 10th Anniversary Re-issue of The Mercian Sphere". Candlelight Records. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
^Henderson, Alex. "The Mercian Sphere Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
^"The Mercian Sphere by Winterfylleth". Bandcamp. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
February 02, 2023
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The Mercian Sphere is the second studio album by the English black metal band Winterfylleth released on 12 July 2010 through Candlelight Records It was made after Winterfylleth regrouped in 2009 and was the band s first collaboration with Candlelight Records It contains Anglo Saxon lyrical subjects and influences from folk music The Mercian SphereStudio album by WinterfyllethReleased12 July 2010StudioFoel StudiosGenreBlack metalLength68 25LanguageEnglishLabelCandlelight RecordsProducerChris FieldingWinterfylleth chronologyThe Ghost of Heritage 2008 The Mercian Sphere 2010 The Threnody of Triumph 2012 Contents 1 Background 2 Music and recording 3 Release 4 Reception 5 Track listing 6 See also 7 ReferencesBackground EditThe black metal band Winterfylleth formed in Manchester in 2007 by the drummer Simon Lucas and vocalist and guitarist Chris Naughton The band released its debut album The Ghost of Heritage through Profound Lore Records in 2008 1 Between the first and second album the band replaced its bass guitarist who attracted attention from antifascists for posts on his Myspace page where he used the phrases wpww short for White Pride World Wide and 14w referring to the Fourteen Words slogan of the American neo Nazi David Lane This prompted a festival in Manchester to cancel a Winterfylleth performance and the band to change its line up 2 Regrouped in 2009 the band consisted of Naughton on guitar and vocals Lucas on drums Nick Wallwork on bass and Mark Wood on guitar 3 Music and recording EditWinterfylleth signed with the bigger label Candlelight Records to release its second album The Mercian Sphere The Mercian Sphere was the first Winterfylleth album to feature Caroline Lucas on violin on the instrumental track Children of the Stones 1 The album features a trilogy of songs called The Wayfarer which were inspired by the Old English poem The Wanderer preserved in the 10th century Exeter Book 4 The album was recorded at Foel Studios and produced by Chris Fielding 5 Release EditCandlelight Records released The Mercian Sphere on 12 July 2010 6 The liner notes say the album is dedicated to all those who are actively involved with the preservation of our great ancestral heritage history folklore and rich national culture 4 Winterfylleth was featured on the cover of the music magazine Zero Tolerance in conjunction with the release 4 In 2020 Candlelight Records released a tenth anniversary edition with new cover art and a booklet with extended liner notes Winterfylleth released a lyric video for the song A Valley Thick with Oaks for this occasion 7 Reception EditComparing The Mercian Sphere to The Ghost of Heritage the scholar Karl Spracklen says it is more ambiguous in its lyrics about race and nation though it is still mainly about Anglo Saxon men fighting for England 1 Alex Henderson of AllMusic says the album succeeds in combining melody and harmony with the aggression expected from the black metal genre He says it incorporates elements of European folk music without becoming folk metal although is likely to be dismissed by black metal purists who consider melodic black metal to be watered down rather than nuanced 8 Metal de s Yannick says Winterfylleth stands out within its genre due to its less martial and more serious image reflected in a musical seriousness on The Mercian Sphere and highlights the passages inspired by folk music which provide atmosphere to the songs 6 Track listing EditAdapted from The Mercian Sphere s Bandcamp page 9 No TitleLength1 Gateway to the Dark Peak The Solitary One Waits for Grace The Wayfarer Pt I 07 052 Awakens He Bereft of Kinsmen The Wayfarer Pt II 07 253 The Fields of Reckoning 05 334 Children of the Stones 04 455 The Ruin 06 526 The Honour of Good Men on the Path to Eternal Glory 10 177 To Find Solace Where Security Stands The Wayfarer Pt III 10 118 When the Woods Were Young 02 249 A Valley Thick with Oaks 07 2210 Defending the Realm 06 31Total length 68 25See also Edit2010 in heavy metal music MerciaReferences Edit a b c Spracklen Karl 2020 Metal Music and the Re imagining of Masculinity Place Race and Nation Bingley Emerald Publishing pp 153 156 ISBN 978 978 1 83867 5 Spracklen Karl 2017 Developing a Cultural Theory of Music Making and Leisure Baudrillard the Simulacra and Music Consumption In Mantie Roger Smith Gareth Dylan eds The Oxford Handbook of Music Making and Leisure Oxford Oxford University Press p 286 ISBN 978 0 19 024470 5 Winterfylleth Signs With Candlelight Records Blabbermouth net 14 November 2009 Retrieved 7 January 2023 a b c Deeks Mark 2016 National Identity in Northern and Eastern European Heavy Metal PhD University of Leeds pp 124 126 Retrieved 10 January 2023 Dick Chris 14 November 2012 Chris Naughton Winterfylleth interviewed Decibel Retrieved 7 January 2023 a b Yannick 12 July 2010 Winterfylleth The Mercian Sphere in German Metal de Retrieved 6 January 2023 Winterfylleth Release Lyric Video A Valley Thick With Oaks to Celebrate 10th Anniversary Re issue of The Mercian Sphere Candlelight Records Retrieved 10 January 2010 Henderson Alex The Mercian Sphere Review AllMusic Retrieved 6 January 2023 The Mercian Sphere by Winterfylleth Bandcamp Retrieved 23 January 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Mercian Sphere amp oldid 1136981626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
