Album Review // Cameron Winter // Heavy Metal

Partisan Records

4.5/5 stars

In his first solo effort, Cameron Winter's idiosyncrasies flow with perfect delivery.

2024 was a big year for Winter before the announcement of his debut. As the frontman for Brooklyn rock band Geese, the musician spent most of the year touring, opening for acts like Greta Van Fleet and King Gizzard. However, touring did not stop the singer from his creative ventures. These on-the-road sessions bore fruit, becoming Heavy Metal. Announced and released with little fanfare, Heavy Metal immediately sets itself apart from Winter's projects with Geese. His traditional musical influences of Rolling Stones, Strokes, and Ween take a backseat in favor of singer-songwriters: the sounds of Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, and Tom Waits all hold space on this record.  Even after taking inspiration from all these greats, Winter creates a wholly original project. Assisting in this oneness is the singer's unique vocal timbre. There is a level of unpredictability with his singing, making each word of his enigmatic lyrics a surprise on first listen. The album's production is equally astonishing. Whether the track consists of sparse piano and guitar plucking or channels '60s pop pastiche, each instrument is laid perfectly in the mix. Cameron Winter may, in his words, be a "heavy metal man," but his debut album soars with airy perfection.