Review: Beleriand - Rituals of Winter (2026)
Beleriand's Rituals of Winter (9/10) Norwegian atmospheric black metal Beleriand returns with Rituals of Winter, a cold, purposeful triumph that marks the project’s finest hour. Read more!
Band: Beleriand
Album: Rituals of Winter
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Wolfspell Records
Released: April 5, 2026
Introduction
Since the project’s inception in 2019, the Norwegian solo act Beleriand has been a stalwart of the atmospheric and epic black metal underground. Masterminded by the multi-instrumentalist Víðarr, the project has consistently bridged the gap between the lo-fi nostalgia of early 90s dungeon synth and the sweeping, frost-bitten majesty of Tolkien-inspired black metal. Following a string of acclaimed releases like "Far Over Wood and Mountain Tall" and the 2021 breakout "February", Beleriand has spent the last few years refining its sound. Now, in 2026, we are presented with "Rituals of Winter", a cold, uncompromising journey into the heart of a never-ending night.
Rituals of Winter
Track Listing:
- Mystery of the Night (Intro)
- In Frozen Silence
- Rituals of Winter
- Fox-Queen of Shadowed Lands
- The Ravens (Bathory Cover)
- Reign of Utter Death
- Steel and Flame
- Morgoth
The songwriting on this record marks a deliberate and successful return to Beleriand’s melodic black metal roots. While 2025’s “The Tempest” experimented with more chaotic, dissonant textures, “Rituals of Winter” strips away the excess to focus on the freezing, memorable riffs that defined the project’s earlier days. It is a marked improvement over its predecessor; where “The Tempest” occasionally felt cluttered or thin, this album feels far more intentional and cohesive. The production is still raw and cold, but it finally has the clarity needed to let the melodies breathe.
The influence of Summoning remains a cornerstone of the sound, especially in the way Víðarr uses keyboards to build a cinematic atmosphere. However, Beleriand leans harder into the black metal side of things than many other Tolkien-inspired acts. After the ambient opening of "Mystery Of The Night (Intro)," tracks like "In Frozen Silence" and the title track, "Rituals Of Winter," deliver a relentless frostbitten energy.
The songwriting also feels more mature. "Fox-Queen Of Shadowed Lands" introduces a slower, more deliberate rhythm that works perfectly with the album's theme, while the cover of Bathory’s "The Ravens" is a great nod to the genre's origins. The album builds toward a massive finish with "Reign Of Utter Death" and "Steel And Flame," eventually ending on the crushing weight of "Morgoth." This final track captures the dread of Middle-earth’s greatest villain through heavy, atmospheric layers that linger long after the song ends.
Conclusion
"Rituals of Winter" is easily Beleriand’s best work to date. By tightening up the production and focusing on stronger, more melodic structures, Víðarr has created an album that feels both classic and fresh. It honors the genre of black metal flawlessly aswell as the grim beauty of Tolkien’s First Age without getting lost in over-the-top symphonics. For fans of epic, atmosphere-heavy metal, this is a must-listen. It’s a straightforward, punishingly cold record and a massive return to form for Beleriand.
BMZ Rating: 9/10
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