Phantom Winter
Phantom Winter is a German doom/black metal band from Würzburg which formed in 2014.
Members:
** Vocals: Christian Krank ("Krikra")
** Guitar, Vocals, Piano: Andreas Schmittfull (ex Omega Massif)
** Drums: Michael Kadnar (Woe, Downfall of Gaia and So Hideous; since 2026)
** Guitar: Florian Brunhuber (ex Hands That Lift the Oceans; since 2017)
** Bass: Kevin Gärtner (since 2018)
Ex members:
** Guitar: David Schneiker (2015–2016)
** Guitar: Björn Granzow (2016–2017)
** Bass: Martin Achter (2014–2019)
** Drums: Christof Rath (ex Omega Massif; from 2014 to 2026)
History:
Phantom Winter was founded in Würzburg in 2014 by Andreas Schmittfull and Christof Rath, initially as a side project to Omega Massif. According to the band, the idea came from Rath after the songwriting process for new Omega Massif material had "stopped working properly." Although originally conceived as a two-piece, the project quickly expanded into a full band.
They played their first show on January 30th 2015 at immerhin Würzburg.
Schmittfull wrote the band's first song, "Wintercvlt," which was recorded at Blank Disc Studio by Tobias Anderko. By this point, Christian Krank had already joined as a second vocalist. Following the recording, bassist Martin Achter completed the lineup, and within six months the band recorded and released its debut album, Cvlt.
The album title Cvlt serves both as a homophone to Omega Massif's demo kalt and as a reference to all forms of cults that influence people. Conceived as a conceptual rejection of such ideologies, Cvlt was released in 2015 through Golden Antenna Records and received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised it as a worthy successor to Omega Massif while emphasizing its emotional intensity, artistic ambition, and unsettling atmosphere.
After recording the debut, David Schneiker, who was also a member of Bait, joined Phantom Winter as a second guitarist. After several live performances, he left the band and was replaced by Björn Granzow.
The band's second album, Sundown Pleasures, was released in 2016. Its title pays tribute to Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures. Two music videos accompanied the release: one for the title track directed by Andreas Deininger, and another for "Bombing the Witches," filmed in California by Jeremiah Jones and featuring Kerry Knuppe.
Like its predecessor, Sundown Pleasures received consistently positive reviews. Critics described it as a nightmarish yet compelling listening experience, praising its oppressive atmosphere, emotional depth, and uncompromising heaviness. Many reviewers regarded the album as a significant artistic step forward, highlighting its originality and intensity.
Following the album's release, Granzow left the band due to time constraints and was replaced by Florian Brunhuber. With this lineup, Phantom Winter recorded their third album, Into Dark Science, which was released in 2018 through Golden Antenna Records. The album completed the conceptual trilogy begun with Cvlt.
Critical reception was again overwhelmingly positive. While some reviewers felt the extremely harsh vocals made the album challenging to listen to, most praised its uncompromising darkness, emotional weight, and ambitious songwriting. Into Dark Science was widely considered equal to or even stronger than its predecessors, with critics describing it as the band's heaviest and most uncompromising work to date. The album was characterized as intensely bleak, demanding, and immersive, balancing moments of crushing heaviness with unexpectedly restrained passages.
One reviewer summarized the album by writing:
"Anyone willing to embrace this nightmare will be rewarded with an intense musical experience unlike any other. Perhaps even more uncompromising than on their first two releases, Phantom Winter have created an extreme work that deserves the highest recognition."
Martin Achter left Phantom Winter in 2019 and was replaced by bassist Kevin Gärtner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many musicians and club owners lost significant income, the band recorded a cover of Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" in 2020. It was released digitally as a charity single, with proceeds benefiting the Braunschweig bar Klaue.
On April 28th 2026, they announced that Christof Rath would leave the band after their show on October 10th 2026.
On May 28th they announced that their new drummer will be Michael Kadnar of Woe, Downfall of Gaia and So Hideous.
Phantom Winter describe their music as "Winterdoom." Critics have variously categorized the band as post-metal, sludge, and post-black metal while citing prominent acts from those genres as stylistic reference points. Andreas Schmittfull is solely responsible for the band's songwriting, lyrics, arrangements, and use of samples.
Their music is characterized by crushing, slow-moving guitar riffs rooted in sludge metal, mechanically precise and cold-sounding drumming, melancholic melodic lead guitar work, and an oppressive atmosphere. Their sound combines elements of doom, post-metal, black metal, drone, and apocalyptic soundscapes into a cohesive and highly distinctive style.
Discography:
Cvlt (2015)
Sundown Pleasures (2016)
Into Dark Science (2018)
Her cold materials (2023)
https://www.instagram.com/phantomwinter
Members:
** Vocals: Christian Krank ("Krikra")
** Guitar, Vocals, Piano: Andreas Schmittfull (ex Omega Massif)
** Drums: Michael Kadnar (Woe, Downfall of Gaia and So Hideous; since 2026)
** Guitar: Florian Brunhuber (ex Hands That Lift the Oceans; since 2017)
** Bass: Kevin Gärtner (since 2018)
Ex members:
** Guitar: David Schneiker (2015–2016)
** Guitar: Björn Granzow (2016–2017)
** Bass: Martin Achter (2014–2019)
** Drums: Christof Rath (ex Omega Massif; from 2014 to 2026)
History:
Phantom Winter was founded in Würzburg in 2014 by Andreas Schmittfull and Christof Rath, initially as a side project to Omega Massif. According to the band, the idea came from Rath after the songwriting process for new Omega Massif material had "stopped working properly." Although originally conceived as a two-piece, the project quickly expanded into a full band.
They played their first show on January 30th 2015 at immerhin Würzburg.
Schmittfull wrote the band's first song, "Wintercvlt," which was recorded at Blank Disc Studio by Tobias Anderko. By this point, Christian Krank had already joined as a second vocalist. Following the recording, bassist Martin Achter completed the lineup, and within six months the band recorded and released its debut album, Cvlt.
The album title Cvlt serves both as a homophone to Omega Massif's demo kalt and as a reference to all forms of cults that influence people. Conceived as a conceptual rejection of such ideologies, Cvlt was released in 2015 through Golden Antenna Records and received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised it as a worthy successor to Omega Massif while emphasizing its emotional intensity, artistic ambition, and unsettling atmosphere.
After recording the debut, David Schneiker, who was also a member of Bait, joined Phantom Winter as a second guitarist. After several live performances, he left the band and was replaced by Björn Granzow.
The band's second album, Sundown Pleasures, was released in 2016. Its title pays tribute to Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures. Two music videos accompanied the release: one for the title track directed by Andreas Deininger, and another for "Bombing the Witches," filmed in California by Jeremiah Jones and featuring Kerry Knuppe.
Like its predecessor, Sundown Pleasures received consistently positive reviews. Critics described it as a nightmarish yet compelling listening experience, praising its oppressive atmosphere, emotional depth, and uncompromising heaviness. Many reviewers regarded the album as a significant artistic step forward, highlighting its originality and intensity.
Following the album's release, Granzow left the band due to time constraints and was replaced by Florian Brunhuber. With this lineup, Phantom Winter recorded their third album, Into Dark Science, which was released in 2018 through Golden Antenna Records. The album completed the conceptual trilogy begun with Cvlt.
Critical reception was again overwhelmingly positive. While some reviewers felt the extremely harsh vocals made the album challenging to listen to, most praised its uncompromising darkness, emotional weight, and ambitious songwriting. Into Dark Science was widely considered equal to or even stronger than its predecessors, with critics describing it as the band's heaviest and most uncompromising work to date. The album was characterized as intensely bleak, demanding, and immersive, balancing moments of crushing heaviness with unexpectedly restrained passages.
One reviewer summarized the album by writing:
"Anyone willing to embrace this nightmare will be rewarded with an intense musical experience unlike any other. Perhaps even more uncompromising than on their first two releases, Phantom Winter have created an extreme work that deserves the highest recognition."
Martin Achter left Phantom Winter in 2019 and was replaced by bassist Kevin Gärtner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many musicians and club owners lost significant income, the band recorded a cover of Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" in 2020. It was released digitally as a charity single, with proceeds benefiting the Braunschweig bar Klaue.
On April 28th 2026, they announced that Christof Rath would leave the band after their show on October 10th 2026.
On May 28th they announced that their new drummer will be Michael Kadnar of Woe, Downfall of Gaia and So Hideous.
Phantom Winter describe their music as "Winterdoom." Critics have variously categorized the band as post-metal, sludge, and post-black metal while citing prominent acts from those genres as stylistic reference points. Andreas Schmittfull is solely responsible for the band's songwriting, lyrics, arrangements, and use of samples.
Their music is characterized by crushing, slow-moving guitar riffs rooted in sludge metal, mechanically precise and cold-sounding drumming, melancholic melodic lead guitar work, and an oppressive atmosphere. Their sound combines elements of doom, post-metal, black metal, drone, and apocalyptic soundscapes into a cohesive and highly distinctive style.
Discography:
Cvlt (2015)
Sundown Pleasures (2016)
Into Dark Science (2018)
Her cold materials (2023)
https://www.instagram.com/phantomwinter
