Band: 1349 (Nor)
Live Album: "Winter Mass"

Tracklist:
01 - Enter Inferno
02 - Sculptor Of Flesh
03 - Slaves
04 - Through Eyes Of Stone
05 - Cauldron
06 - Striding The Chasm
07 - Chasing Dragons
08 - Serpentine Sibilance
09 - I Am Abomination
10 - Golem
11 - Atomic Chapel
12 - Dodskamp
13 - Abyssos Antithesis

::REVIEW::

1349’s Winter Mass stands as a direct snapshot of a band operating on complete instinct. Recorded in Oslo just after the pandemic restrictions lifted, it carries the tension of a room finally returning to volume. The sound is unfiltered. The atmosphere is close and abrasive. There is no attempt to smooth anything out.
The opener, “Enter Inferno,” sets the stage before the band drops into “Sculptor of Flesh,” a reminder of the precision and brutality that defined their early identity. Ravn’s vocals cut harder now than they did on the old studio records. Frost keeps the momentum brutal but controlled, shifting patterns to maintain pressure without slipping into monotony. The impact is immediate and sustained.
The central section of the set shows the strength of their more recent material. “Striding the Chasm” moves with discipline. “Cauldron” gains clarity and menace in the live environment, revealing structure beneath the density. “Serpentine Sibilance” surges forward with fierce intent. “I Am Abomination” hits with renewed conviction, delivered by a band fully aware of its own endurance.
The mix remains rough but intentional. Guitars slice through the room. Bass sits low and heavy. Vox stays just above the clash. Crowd noise is present without overwhelming the performance. Every element feels grounded in the physical space where it was captured.
Kim Diaz Holm’s artwork, drawn during actual performances, matches the immediacy of the recording. His illustrations reinforce the album’s focus on presence rather than polish.
Winter Mass functions as a clear record of 1349 in command of their craft. No embellishment. No softening. Only the core of their sound is delivered under conditions that suit them best.

Review written by FuegoCasa in collaboration with Headbangers Australia in November 2025.