This is not a new album, but rather a repressing by Frostscald Records. This disc was originally released back in 1997, the band breaking up just after in true BM style. They have apparently re-formed recently, and that is cool, as this album is a fine relic from the deeps of the Second Wave. At the Sight of the Apocalypse Dragon is a surprisingly melodic affair for the time, and perhaps this is partly responsible for its obscurity. Unlike a lot of late-90's Black Metal albums, this doesn't sound dated, and when it was released, I think this disc was ahead of its time.

Midvinter are not blasty, instead working a crushingly heavy, riffy groove with keys providing some nice melodic background. Clean vocals even make an appearance here and there, though they are sparsely used. The guitar sound has that great, almost Sunlight Swedish bite, and the riffs are melodic and tasty. If I have a complaint about this, it's that a lot of these songs go on too long for no discernable reason, and even the good riffs get repeated to excess. This album is heavy and inventive, but not brilliant. The arrangements are a bit baggy and lack focus, and the sheer joy of heaviness cannot sail them past all evils. So this is not a total classic or anything, but it is a solid album of melodic BM from the original heyday of the style. Midvinter have managed to produce an album that is orthodox without sounding stale, and they might just do it again here. Worthy.