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# Review: Burden of Ymir - The Long Winter
- URL: https://blackmetalzine.com/review-burden-of-ymir-the-long-winter/
- Published: 2025-07-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Description: Burden of Ymir's The Long Winter (9/10). This epic Atmospheric Black Metal album delivers crushing riffs and cold Viking/Pagan dread. Read the full review!
- Author: Michael
- Tags: #rating-9

*Band: Burden of Ymir* 
*Album: The Long Winter* 
*Genre: Black Metal* 
*Country: Canada* 
*Label: Flowing Downward* 
*Released: July 4, 2025*

![](https://blackmetalzine.com/content/images/2025/11/burden_of_ymir_logo-4.jpg)

## Introduction

Burden of Ymir is a Canadian black metal band hailing from Sudbury, Ontario. Consisting solely of multi-instrumentalist Joe Caswell, the band started off as an instrumental project, evolving and progressing its themes and narratives around Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. Having released five full length albums and several demos since 2019, Burden of Ymir has returned with album number six, *The Long Winter.*

![](https://blackmetalzine.com/content/images/2025/11/burden_of_ymir_band-4.jpg)

## The Album

**Tracklist:**

1. As Witches Under Cloak of Night
2. A Raven Brought Dark Omens
3. Strange Craft
4. Found in the Embrace of Cold Wind
5. Another Seed of Yggdrasil
6. Like Blood in the Snow
7. Frozen Threads of a Spider's Making
8. Forever Frost and Sleep

![](https://blackmetalzine.com/content/images/2025/11/burden_of_ymir_album-9.jpg)

Burden of Ymir's previous album *Heorot* (2023) saw Caswell’s first departure from Norse mythology and covered the tale of Beowulf. Now with *The Long Winter* he has returned to the northern mythologies. This time around the album's lyrical themes follow the tale of Gudrun, a völva, who living in times of brutal winter has learned of the impending Fimbulvetr to come before Ragnarok. First seeking a way to put an end to the long winter, she finds acceptance in her fate as even the gods themselves cannot fight the inevitable. Weaving a tale as old as time, that “every end is but another beginning” throughout the lyrical storytelling. Caswell does an impeccable job of laying a musical backdrop behind his lyrics. Taking elements of folk, viking, and black metal and combining them into a sonic melting pot that I must say yields some very satisfying results. *The Long Winter* really shines in its latter half. Starting with *Found in the Embrace of Cold Wind* the riffs and overall feel of the album/songwriting takes on a melodic, riff laden element that I appreciate. The tracks *Like Blood in the Snow* and *Frozen Webs of the Spiders Making* are my personal favorites off of the album. They exemplify Caswell's prowess as a musician and a songwriter perfectly.

## Conclusion

There is a little bit of something on this album for everyone. It's a masterfully crafted piece of art that blends seamlessly the likes of **Bathory**, and **Falkenbach** with a modern black metal approach. Overall *The Long Winter* continues to display Caswell's growth as a musician. Taking the production once again up a notch along with his song writing abilities. It's an excellent piece of viking/folk inspired black metal and quite possibly his best work to date.

**BMZ Rating: 8 out of 1**0

![](https://blackmetalzine.com/content/images/2025/11/8-out-of-10-285.gif)

**Support Burden of Ymir here:** [https://burdenofymir.bandcamp.com/album/the-long-winter](https://burdenofymir.bandcamp.com/album/the-long-winter?ref=blackmetalzine.com)

## Your thoughts on Burden of Ymir

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