The unofficial WINTER NMA forum review thread...

[Master Ray]

Must be over several listens now, and beginning to become familiar.

First thoughts... it's a bit unfamiliar - more Today is a Good Day than Between Dog & Wolf (which is now in my top 2 or 3 NMA albums).
If BDAW was for the drummers then Winter is for the guitarists. The main difference these days of course with the band-in-the-room sound is a 5-piece in contrast to the old 3-piece drum/bass -driven NMA.

Beginnings - Didn't take to this to begin with - thought it should have ended before the drums come in - but it has a See You in Hell vibe to it so glad it develops and is now one of my favourites.
Burn The Castle is hilarious. Found this a bit pirate-rock to begin with (perhaps the source of that scathing Times review?), but really, it's the sound of the Mob isn't it, er, burning down the castle! I just love how Justin spits out "Burn The Castle", i'm expecting swearing but it is stronger than swearing.
Winter is great, been loving this since it came out.
Part The Waters is one of them i'm still trying to figure out the lyrics. Almost a contrasting view to Die Trying perhaps?
When it starts, woa, that's a strange NMA chord? and tremolo guitar? wait a minute Morrissey does those chords not NMA. Haha keeping us on our toes again. Great song. In a way, as it develops reminds me of a Who rock opera. One of my early favourites.
Eyes Get Used to the Darkness - a song full of verses, like Modern Times is. Growing on me more and more.
Drifts. Like this one a lot, bit of a western rhythm and vibe to it. Drums sort of a progression from Lean Back & Fall. Great hook chorus. More unfamiliar territory for NMA. Love it, another favourite.
Born Feral. Really strong song straight away. Hint of recent PJ Harvey about it too. Musically the most interesting track on the album, this will be a favourite to many.
Die Trying. Again another popular one. I love how the guitar sounds slightly out of tune at the beginning. Has a credible live camp fire vibe to it (which was probably the point).
Devil. Another favourite. It has that modern heavy rock production to it. great mix and fantastic hook chorus. Love the guitar/bass runs in the chorus too.
Strogoula / Echo November / Weak and Strong / After Something - less familiar with these due to length of the album.
Echo November is the standout of this bunch, and Weak and Strong too.  The start of Echo November reminds me of Kate Bush's "Nocturn" (another great song). But not really sure what the refrain means yet (phonetic alphabet "E""N" Echo November, or just the 2nd sequel to March in September?  ).

Only criticism is the length of the album really. Not a fan of long albums, ie more than 10 tracks. I think vinyl was the perfect album length (45 mins), particularly these days as I rarely get chance to sit down and listen to an album longer than that. (my work bus ride 40mins)
Any remaining songs can then be used as b-sides. But saying that, I end up tagging the b-sides onto their albums anyway so my argument falls down there!
Besides maybe NMA just think, rather than messing about keeping songs back like a record company to release as cynical money-making b-sides, they just release the whole album as the project it was. Great work.

So no grumbles really. Love every NMA album and it's fantastic we have another.

Enjoyed your review, mate!

[Anna Woman von NRW]

Finally got my hands on it today, so a bit early for a considered view but suffice to say currently on 5th listen...........

Beginning, Eyes Get Used To the Darkness, Born Feral and Devil are the immediate ear worms. Liking the more upfront guitar work from Marshall but  also some nice bass work and keyboards coming through. Can hear some echoes of Carnival in here somewhere and also something that puts me in mind of Ghost Of Cain, dunno what though 

But the damn thing won't play through my laptop

[jackroadkill]

As much as I'm not blown away by it yet, I did wake up this morning singing the chorus from Devil....  There's hope yet, aye?

[Pol]

If you listen for it you will find it lol

[Shush]

echoes of Carnival in here somewhere and also something that puts me in mind of Ghost Of Cain, dunno what though

there have been a couple of comparisons made to other albums. For me, "Weak and Strong" would be at home on T&C. "After Something" would be at home on Impurity. All the others  are pure Winter. 

[Dominic]

Echo November is the standout of this bunch, and Weak and Strong too.  The start of Echo November reminds me of Kate Bush's "Nocturn" (another great song).

Enjoyed your review, mate!

Apart from i compared Echo November to the wrong Kate Bush song! I was thinking of "How to be Invisible" (from same album as Nocturn.

No idea how the professionals can review an album after a couple of listens. It must boil down to if they like the band or not.
It's hard enough not to compare to other songs even when the output is quite unique like NMA.

[Guillaume]

Apart from i compared Echo November to the wrong Kate Bush song! I was thinking of "How to be Invisible" (from same album as Nocturn.

indeed! really nice song! Justin is a great fan of Kate Bush.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FMtQrsKM8c

Beginnings - Didn't take to this to begin with - thought it should have ended before the drums come in -
Drifts. Like this one a lot, bit of a western rhythm and vibe to it. Drums sort of a progression from Lean Back & Fall. Great hook chorus. More unfamiliar territory for NMA. Love it, another favourite.
Born Feral. Really strong song straight away. Hint of recent PJ Harvey about it too. Musically the most interesting track on the album, this will be a favourite to many.
Only criticism is the length of the album really.

i agree!

[Coumarin]

I need to get hold of this when I get home. Found internet access at the airport. Can't wait to listen to it instead of the 'musak' that's now playing in the hotel lobby!

[Coumarin]

Although, saying that, Poison Prince by Amy MacDonald has just started. Now that I don't mind!

[jackroadkill]

Okay, so this is the bit where I eat my humble pie, wash it down with a long draught of bitter humility and ask for a second helping; ten or so listens and it's grown on me like fresh ivy on an old oak...  Still not overly impressed with the sound (I think at the mastering stage), but have really come to like the songs in the main.

Phew!

[Rasi]

Apart from i compared Echo November to the wrong Kate Bush song! I was thinking of "How to be Invisible" (from same album as Nocturn.

indeed! really nice song! Justin is a great fan of Kate Bush.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FMtQrsKM8c

Man I love the Aerial album

[Johnz]

I've had about 30 listens of Winter over the past few weeks and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it but I can't exactly say why. There are a few songs that I like a lot and some that I'm skipping now. There are echoes of older songs here (Orange Tree Roads, Higher Wall, Too Close To The Sun, Innocence, See You In Hell, Sunset and some others that I can't quite put my finger on). Overall, I think it's a solid album. It almost sounds like a cross between BDAW/BWAB and Carnival but somehow it hasn't managed to blow me away in quite the same way as those albums did. Still a good album and Die Trying in particular is a stand out IMO.

It will be interesting to see how it stands the test of time. If the other albums are anything to go by then I will probably end up loving it.

[Impuri-D]

I have to say that this album has blown me away. In some ways, I am having the same experience as I did with 'Thunder and Consolation' back in 1989, which was my first NMA experience, and had a very intense and profound effect on me that lasts to this day. 'Winter' has rendered all other music temporarily obsolete, and is the only thing my ears want to process right now.

With that in mind, my amazon review reflects my boyish enthusiasm 

[I like to think of New Model Army albums as friends. They all have unique personalities, and they all have numerous reasons why you like them, yet not necessarily the same reasons across the board. Some don't make a strong first impression (Between Dog and Wolf was such for me), but over time, as you get to know them, they become so dear to you that you can't imagine life without them. Others you just click with immediately, and know that you have found a soul mate from the off.
Such is the case with Winter. I hesitate to use comparative reference to describe albums, because what we hear and get from music is so personal and subjective, but for me, this album evokes the ethereal crescendos of 'High', mixed with a splash of the growling menace of Today is a Good Day, all wrapped up in the classic touches and vibe that harks back to Impurity.

I have never heard NMA make a 'filler' number in my life- even their B Sides are pure gold to these ears, so I have NMA songs that I love, and those that I merely really like. Every song on Winter, I love. I mean genuinely adore. This album is stunning. To be able to do this in a career spanning 16 albums is frankly supernatural, and leaves me wondering if the Faustian lyrics of 'Devil' may allude to Justin having made a deal for some help somewhere along the way ;-)

It is difficult to offer highlights in an album that IS a highlight in and of itself, but 'Burn the Castle', 'Eyes Get Used to the Darkness' 'Winter', 'Devil'....you see if I carry on I am just going to write out the complete track listing.

Did I mention that this album is a masterpiece? A career highlight in a career full of highlights? Have I managed to convey how utterly and completely I implore you to buy it? Go on, 2 clicks and the price of a round and it's yours. You will not regret it, I promise.]

[nickg]

Nice review Impuri-D and that is pretty much word for word what I would say. I lent Winter to a couple of people at work who just don't get it, they say it is boring, one paced and monotonous. Which in a way frustrates me but at the same time reinforces the view that this band is our secret who just get better and better. Maybe you need to be a fan to get them I don't know, I only know that it is worth something (someone should put that line in a song!!)

[marius]

some well written unofficial reviews here; https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01IDQF74G/ref=acr_search_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&showViewpoints=0

"There is a certain sadness running through some of this record, and a raw, unpolished, dirty sound which speaks of what CS Lewis might call the "hardness" of the universe. But there's more than a thread of hope to keep our spirits alive, and in some ways it is a testimony to the resilience of humanity in the face of difficulty. It's hard not to be impressed by the quality of the poetry in the lyrics, even if sometimes they hide deeper mysteries."

"I like to think of New Model Army albums as friends. They all have unique personalities, and they all have numerous reasons why you like them, yet not necessarily the same reasons across the board"

"I'm the grey haired grandfather in the mosh pit dancing with an enthusiasm as I did in the early days.
This band has been a huge influence on my life and continues through my kids and their kids"