Funeral Winds

For our next band, we visit a nation not often talked about in black metal circles: Netherlands. One of that country's prime examples of great black metal, Rotterdam's FUNERAL WINDS doesn't compromise in their music. The band was formed in 1991 by Hellchrist Xul (guitar) and Gorgoroth (vocals), but it wasn't long before they recruited Esteban on drums and put out some really vile demo material!

Their first demo (a rehearsal from 1992), circulated only among the black metal elite, but it wasn't long before subsequent demos emerged (1993's La Majeste infernable and 1994's Resurrection...)that spread the band's infamy far and wide. This third demo was even released by cult Polish label Pagan Records. This was also an era where they recruited new members, beginning the trend of a rotating cast of musicians outside of the band's core.

This is 1994's Resurrection... demo in its entirety

While their star was rising in the early nineties, and the band was fairly prolific, all was not well in the band. Hellchrist Xul and Esteban didn't get along, and so the band temporarily broke up before even releasing a full-length album. Gorgoroth went on to form Liar of Golgotha (another Dutch black metal band that would go on to become successful), but eventually the members of Funeral Winds reconciled and regrouped. They then began preparing material for a full-length album.

But old grudges die hard, and it wasn't long before Gorgoroth was out of the band and Hellchrist had recruited a whole slew of new musicians who were all willing to add 'Xul' to their stage names (this is the band's hallmark---'Xul' is, I believe, an ancient Sumerian word for 'evil'). This new line-up was the one that recorded their debut album, 1998's Godslayer Xul.

"Thy Eternal Flame" comes from their debut album

In addition to their constantly rotating lineup, Funeral Winds was also known for truly epic live shows--replete with candles, fire breathing, and self-mutilation, all in the name of their Satanic beliefs. You see, Funeral Winds was a band that didn't just talk the talk, they walked the walk. The Satanism associated with black metal was a very real presence in the lives of these Dutch heavy metal maniacs.

But the years after the release of their debut full-length album were not easy ones. The revolving line-up became an issue for the band, and it was over four years before they were able to put out new material. In '03, they put out a split album, followed by their second full-length studio album in 2004, Koude haat.

Koude haat gives us "Dawn of the Bestial Blood"

With a title that means "cold hate", their second album featured more of the angry, vile black metal from their earlier years. With a style that also takes its cues from old-school black/thrash, Funeral Winds is the kind of band that should appeal to all black metallers. Since Koude haat, FW has been consistent---but not as busy. While they have released two solid albums since then, they don't churn them out with regularity.

Their most recent release is 2018's Sinister Creed, and it's as punishing and violent as any FW album. I'd say it's angrier and more aggressive than much of their earlier work. Funeral Winds is definitely a band that should be in the rotation for all fans of true, no-frills black metal.

"The Arrival"--from Sinister Creed--showcases Funeral Winds's style

Select Discography:

Rehearsal 1992 (demo) (1992)
La Majeste Infernable (demo) (1993)
Resurrection... (demo) (1994)

Thy Eternal Flame EP (1994)

Screaming for Grace (split with Abigail) (1995)

Godslayer Xul (full-length album) (1998)
For the Glory of Xul 12" (split with Inferi) (2003)

Koude haat (full-length album) (2004)
Nexion Xul - The Cursed Bloodline (full-length album) (2007)

Next time: JUDAS ISCARIOT