Highly inspired by the early Black Sabbath the band Northwinds has added elements from progressive rock, NWOBHM (Witchfynde, Quartz, Diamond Head), doom metal (Candlemass, Saint Vitus) as well as frightful trash metal (Celtic Frost, Sodom) to their otherwise original compositions. The result can be heard on Great God Pan where the band adds the Black Sabbath cover �A National Acrobat� to their five original songs. Should you have no info about this release then you might think this concerns a re-release of a long forgotten gem from the seventies. The atmosphere which the band creates is stunning: a dark gravy coming from the Candelmass/Manowar/Count Raven roast, spiced with Alan Stivell and Ange herbs. Listen to �The Pain� which takes you from one mood into another and has singer Niclas Vincent�s voice get very near to that of a young Ozzy Osbourne. Spooky!

Northwinds evokes the atmosphere of little elves running around the nearby cemetary: not very original yet urging you to hear more and more. Highly recommended for those of you who also like some "harder" edged music. Sabbath Bloody Northwinds!

Formed in Paris in the early nineties, Northwinds soon became well-known in the musical scene for their fascinating mixture of hard rock in the vein of Jethro Tull and Black Sababth combined with pagan influences. And so came Great God Pan, the brilliant debut-album featuring five hymns to the God of the woods, plus a cover song of Black Sabbath's "A National Acrobat".