If memory serves me correctly, most of the material on The Celtic Winter is borrowed from In the Glare of Burning Churches demo, only it’s slicker in execution and production. I think this actually detracts somewhat from the feral tension which characterized the originals. Carpathian Wolves is probably my all time favourite, especially the second half which slows down into epic, ritualistic, last day on earth type stuff.
Objectively, Thousand Swords and Following the Voice of Blood represent the pinnacle of Darken’s artistic vision (not forgetting the Veles albums from the same year which probably owe as much to Darken as anybody). Everything that came after is of integrity but never reached those same heights.
So far, only Beherit’s Engram might offer us an effective solution to the bell curve problem.