Battlemaster’s Warthirsting & Winterbound is a total underground metal sleeper hit — a record that could easily pass as Scandinavian in tone and execution, yet proudly hails from Richmond, Virginia, of all places. Originally released in 2007 by Forcefield Records, this full-length CD is a cold-blasted collection of battle-ready hymns that draw from black metal’s icy shriek, death metal’s brute force, and traditional heavy metal’s unrelenting obsession with swords, blood, and glory.

Imagine if Immortal, Amon Amarth, and early Dissection decided to form a supergroup and jam out in an old church basement. That’s the spirit Battlemaster captures here. From the opening riffs to the final warcry, Warthirsting & Winterbound delivers a blizzard of razor-sharp guitar lines, mid-paced marching tempos, sudden blasts of frostbitten speed, and the kind of vocals that veer between deep-throated growls and banshee-level shrieks. There’s a theatrical edge too — like a fantasy novella set to music, without sounding cheesy or overdone.

Tracks like “By Beard and Throne” highlight their sense of humor and high fantasy worship, while still delivering tight musicianship and dynamic songwriting. The album also benefits from a strong sense of pacing — it’s not just a barrage of tremolo riffs; it breathes, it builds, and it knows when to stomp as much as it knows when to slay. The tone is raw but powerful, giving off that early 2000s DIY energy with just the right amount of polish.

This CD version comes in a standard jewel case, no gimmicks, just pure riffage and ancient war cries pressed in plastic. For fans of Windir, Naglfar, Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, or even Manowar by way of black metal, this album is an unexpected cult classic.