Polish melodic death/doom metal veterans Wintershadows to release remastered version of debut demo »Arrakis XXV« on April 30th!

Polish melodic death/doom metal veterans Wintershadows will release remastered version of their 1995 debut demo, entitled »Arrakis XXV«, on April 30th, 2025.

Watch a live session video for re-vamped version of »Arrakis XXV« below!

Tracklist:
01. Sunrise
02. The Birds
03. Beyond The Gates Of Death
04. Arrakis
05. Garden Of Sorrow
06. Outro

From demo to legend! February of this year marked 30 years since the recording of the »Arrakis« demo. This modest, 35-minute long musical material, released on cassette by the now defunct Croon Records label, quickly won the hearts of not only the band’s musicians and friends, but also the reviewers of atmospheric music at the time. Favorable reviews in Metal Hammer, Tylko Rock, Metal Side and others brought the band out of the deep underground, gathering a wider group of listeners around Wintershadows. The sounds from the somewhat forgotten debut, despite the passing of years and the long break in the band’s activity, are still recognized by knowledgeable fans of Polish metal. Thank you for your memory and vigilance.

Someone once wrote: “Teenagers from Nowy Sącz blocks of flats – a musical province, somewhere at the end of Poland, although fascinated by the classics of the genre such as: Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Amorphis and a few others, without looking back, proudly and with their heads held high, walk their own path, creating their own unique style.” These and other edifying words resonate with a special echo, especially today, when the band decides to refer to those unforgettable years.

Music included on »Arrakis« is a technically proficient stylistic syncretism, maintained mainly in the atmosphere of dynamic doom metal, not devoid of heavy metal music influences with numerous elements of classical and electronic music. This music is not only blood-stirring, but also provokes subtle reflection. Sometimes heavy and sometimes melodic riffs along with the delicate sound of the violin and nostalgic sounds of the keyboards, these are the elements that make up the style of Wintershadows.

In connection with the anniversary of the release of the aforementioned demo and following the expectations of those interested, we would like to present to you a collector’s/limited edition on CD. The release, in addition to the remastered tracks from the demo, will include a bonus in the form of the title »Arrakis XXV« presented below, re-recorded and dusted off in terms of arrangement. The whole will be complemented by a new graphic design, supplemented with a set of texts.

We would like to thank everyone who supported us with their time and commitment in the re-production of this sentimental album. We would like to greet all ex-members of the band – from the first ones, without whom »Arrakis« would never have seen the light of day, to all those who have supported us in recent years at rehearsals and concerts.

With undisguised satisfaction and pride, we would like to share with you a video (live session) promoting the new release. Let history happen.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well