Hey everyone, Sean here, welcome back to the Black Metal Archives, where we dive deep into the raw, chaotic, and beautiful underbelly of black metal!
Today, I want to talk about a band that made a serious impact in the playlist—Windswept—and focus on their phenomenal 2019 release, The Onlooker. Spoiler alert: This album is an absolute journey, so stick around as we unpack its sheer brilliance.

Alright, first, a little background for those who might not be familiar. Windswept is the brainchild of Roman Sayenko, a name that should immediately ring a bell if you’re into Ukrainian black metal. Sayenko is best known for his work in Drudkh, a band that’s pretty much legendary at this point. But Windswept is like a more stripped-down, visceral take on the black metal formula—raw, unrelenting, and emotionally charged.”

The Onlooker is their second full-length album, and let me tell you, it’s a masterclass in atmospheric black metal. From the very first moments of the opening track, ‘I’m Oldness and Oblivion,’ you’re hit with this icy, wind-swept atmosphere—pun intended. The guitars are sharp and biting, but there’s this melodic undercurrent that feels deeply melancholic. It’s like the soundscape of a frost-covered forest at dusk.

The thing that really strikes me about this album is how it balances chaos and clarity. Tracks like ‘Disgusting Breed of Hagglers’ absolutely rip—they’re fast, aggressive, and relentless—but then you have moments of eerie calm, like on ‘Gustav Meyrink’s Prague.’ That track, by the way, is one of my favorites. It has this haunting, almost ghostly vibe, with riffs that seem to spiral into infinity.

Let’s talk instrumentation for a second, because this is where Windswept truly shines. The guitars have that classic second-wave tremolo-picking style, but they’re layered in a way that gives the album a very cinematic feel. The drums are another standout—tight, precise, and absolutely pummeling. And the bass, while not always front and center, adds this subtle depth that keeps the whole thing grounded.

And then there are the vocals. Sayenko’s delivery is raw and visceral, like he’s screaming into the void. There’s a real emotional weight to his performance, especially on tracks like ‘Insomnia of the Old Men.’ It’s not just aggression—it’s anguish, frustration, and a kind of existential dread that feels all too real.”

Now, where does Windswept fit into the black metal genre? I’d say they’re a perfect blend of old-school and modern black metal. You can hear the influence of bands like Burzum and Darkthrone in the rawness of the production and the relentless aggression. But there’s also a lot of nuance here, a lot of atmosphere and melody that you might associate with bands like Alcest or even Sayenko’s own Drudkh.

What I love about The Onlooker is that it doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel—it just does what black metal does best, and it does it incredibly well. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it’s deeply atmospheric. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is one of those albums that’ll remind you why you fell in love with black metal in the first place.

So, to wrap things up, if you haven’t checked out Windswept’s The Onlooker, you’re seriously missing out. Tracks like ‘I’m Oldness and Oblivion,’ ‘Disgusting Breed of Hagglers,’ and ‘Gustav Meyrink’s Prague’ are absolute standouts, but honestly, the whole album is solid from start to finish.

Whether you’re a black metal veteran or someone just dipping their toes into the genre, this is an album that’s worth your time. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it’s a perfect example of how black metal can be both brutal and beautiful at the same time.

Alright, that’s it for today’s deep dive into Windswept’s The Onlooker. If you’ve listened to the album, let me know your thoughts in the comments—what’s your favorite track? And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? As always, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that bell so you don’t miss any future reviews. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you next time here on the Black Metal Archives. Stay metal!