ALBUM REVIEW: Wolves in the Throne Room- ‘Thrice Woven’

By: Daniel Jackson

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/09/2017

Label: Artemisia Records

There’s a kind of theatrical gravitas throughout ‘Thrice Woven’. It’s supremely confident, gravely serious, and stunning in its ability to pair serenity and sorrow with pain and anger.

‘Thrice Woven’ CD//LP//CS//DD track listing:

1. Born From The Serpent’s Eye

2. The Old Ones Are With Us

3. Angrboda

4. Mother Owl. Father Ocean

5. Fires Roar in the Palace of the Moon

The Review:

It’s human nature to want to have new experiences. We’re always looking for something different. Whatever aspect of life we’re talking about, things are always moving. Sometimes the perception is that we’re moving forward, but there’s almost always movement of some kind. The same is obviously true of musicians and artists.

Wolves in the Throne Room took their music in an entirely different direction with 2014’s ‘Celestite’. The album was all over the place, ranging from light synthy ambient music to caustic drone and plenty more between the two. The reaction to the album, from fans and press alike, covered a broad spectrum too. Some hailed the band for their artistic freedom, some spurned the album for its failure to fall in line with the band’s previous work, and everyone else fell between those two points.

With ‘Thrice Woven’, Wolves in the Throne Room have essentially retreated to familiar ground, while bringing back some of what they found in the great beyond. Were it not for some of the synth work and dramatic atmospheric elements at work throughout, this album might be Wolves in the Throne Room’s most traditionally black metal album since ‘Diadem of 12 Stars’. A lot of the riffs and tremolo leads would feel right at home in a 90s scandinavian black metal context. “Born From The Serpent” features a section in the first half of the song that could have been on any early Marduk or Enthroned album.

The production too feels like something older. The drums in particular have a very dry sound, which is out of character for Wolves in the Throne Room. The snare has a crisp, thin feel to it, like on Sacramentum’s ‘Far Away From The Sun’. The guitars have a hazy texture to them, though you could call them muted or dull. It would feel constricted and spaceless if these compositions were any different, but here it fits surprisingly well. The guitar leads aren’t in a constant battle with everything else, struggling to shine through in the mix. They’re right up front and clear as day, pulling everything else along with it. What the production sacrifices in sounding massive, it makes up for in clarity.

 There’s a kind of theatrical gravitas throughout ‘Thrice Woven’. It’s supremely confident, gravely serious, and stunning in its ability to pair serenity and sorrow with pain and anger. It harnesses all the bleak melodrama that made ‘Two Hunters’ such a compelling album, and puts it into a universe that’s rooted in a style of black metal they’ve avoided until now. And yet, it never crosses that boundary into second wave worship. This album is a testament to just how deep and rich black metal can be as a genre. I hope they stick around in this space a little while longer.

‘Thrice Woven’ is available digitally here and a CD/LP/CS copy here.

Band info: Official Site || Facebook

EP STREAM & INTERVIEW: "Prepare for sonic detonation" as Wolves Carry My Name usher forth their "Black Earth Tongue"

Thrown into life amongst the nothingness of Siegen/Germany in 2011, Wolves Carry My Name play a bastardised infusion of 90s Sludge-Metal and ruthless Hardcore, making for an undulating sonic onslaught of blackness.

October 14^th will see Wolves Carry My Name release their latest EP in the form of “Black Earth Tongue” and today you can stream it in full below.  This one is guaranteed hyberbolic earworm for fans of Wolves in the Throne Room, Eyehatehod, Thou, Electric Wizard and Ramesses.  So if you like how that sounds, remember the three rules of Sludgelord, “Stop, Look, Listen” and prepare for sonic detonation.   Check out the EP and pre-order/buy it here

If that wasn’t enough, check out my short interview with drummer Moritz about the roots of the band and how the new record came together. 

SL: Can you give us an insight into how you started playing music, leading up to the formation of Wolves Carry My Name

Moritz (Drums) Yeah, sure. Back then in 2011 some of us were on the lookout for people to start a new band/project. At that time we didn't even really know each other. It pretty much was a typical “a friend of a friend knows someone, who might be into it” thing that made us connect with each other and so we somehow ended up jamming out some riffs together. That worked out way better than we'd ever expected and a couple of months later we were a band with an EP.

All of us have been in several bands before. Tobi played in a band blending Alternative Metal/Rock with some Stoner vibes, Adil and Konstantin were into Thrash and Death Metal while Dennis and me were rooted in the Hardcore scene and played in a band together. I think that our different backgrounds helped us a lot with getting this band started. You know, all the basics like 'how to write a song', having connections to the scene, bookers and so on.

SL: Although you are set to release “Black Earth Tongue” which will serve as your 2nd official release, For folks unfamiliar with your band, is there any bands on the scene past and present that you would use as a reference point to describe your band, and who or what continues to inspire you and push you to try new things?

Moritz: This is a tough one. Some of our influences are pretty obvious, I guess. You know, like Eyehategod, Weedeater, Iron Monkey, The Abominable Iron Sloth... the whole Sludge Metal starter pack. This might be the common sense we have. Of course, each of us has his own favorites. Some are into the classic Nola bands or prefer a more stoneresque sound, you know, like Elder for example, some are into Post Metal, some like Crust, Hardcore, Black & Death Metal, Punk-Rock, Indie, Rap, 80s synth wave, whatever.

Not all of this is a real influence, but a lot of it inspires us in one way or another, maybe not even the style itself but the way some bands write songs, perform live, their artworks and attitude whatever. In the end each of us contributes his part. For me personally, Hang the Bastard were a huge influence, both their old and new stuff. I love that rough and angry hardcore energy mixed up with the Nola and Sabbath-riffing.

SL: What can you tell us about your upcoming record and where do you feel it sits within the context of current metal scene?

Moritz: After our first EP and the “Bone Carver” single we had trouble writing new stuff. We jammed out a shit load of riffs and had like up to twenty songs half finished. But it didn't even sound close to what we wanted it to sound. We also had some struggle because of the typical work issues. Some of us moved to other cities and it wasn't easy to manage the whole rehearsal and song writing process. It took us about two years and a serious period of laziness and bad mood to know where we wanted to go. We developed a more consistent sound. The songs are shorter and to the point, the riffs are bigger. It's pretty straight, pissed off and heavy. We skipped most of the atmospheric Post Metal influences and added a certain hardcore appeal. At least that's what it feels and sounds like to me. So long story short.. If you're into heavy riffs and pissed off vibes you should check out "Black Earth Tongue”.

SL: Does anything spring to mind when you think about the completion of your upcoming record and how is the mood in the camp at present?

Moritz: As I said before it was a long hard road with plenty of obstacles. We did a DIY pre-production in my apartment and the shitty drum machine sounds I used for the demo recordings (because I'm not a real technique freak or know much about programming drums) still haunt me. We've all put a lot of work and time into the production but it was worth it. We are really happy with the new songs. I think it really is a step up compared to the “Amongst Ruins And Ashes”-EP. After all the struggle with getting our shit together we now rehearse frequently and can't wait to play live again. Seems like the vibes in this band are way too positive for a nihilistic Sludge Metal band. Well, we'll be working on that, for now it feels really good.

SL: What stands out as your overarching memory from the recording sessions?

Moritz: I remember the first day of recording very well. We hooked up with Manu (Parabol Audio), a really cool guy I know from a recording session in the past. He told us he wanted to try something different with the drums. So when we arrived in Viersen it turned out that I would record drums in a huge hall that was built for orchestras. The setting was really impressive and the sound was really BIG. I felt pretty important, too, more like I was recording takes for a new Pink Floyd album. I think the whole recording session was a cool experience for each of us. Working with Manu was really chilled and he did a damn good job.

SL: With a solid new album in the bag, how is your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months?

Moritz: We will play a couple of shows this year and we plan to do waaaaay more shows next year! So to each and every promoter/booker who likes the new songs: just drop us a line, we seriously want to play your favourite club, church, living room, whatever! We will continue writing new songs in the meantime. Next step is a full length album. We'll see!

SL: Finally, do you have any final comments/word of wisdom you’d like to bestow upon us?

Moritz: We just wanna thank you for your support, Aaron! We really appreciate the time you put into supporting small bands like us. Cheers to our UK friends in Telepathy – check them out, if you're into mind-blowing atmospheric prog/post-metal!

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Winterfylleth - “The Dark Hereafter”

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 30/09/2016
Label: Candlelight Records |
Spinefarm Records

 

 

With only five tracks, the band have placed all their energy into creating an album of depth without any meandering. The real centrepiece of this album is “Green Cathedral”, though. Indeed it is as good a piece of music as you will hear this year.  “The Dark Hereafter” marks Winterfylleth's continuing trend of excellent albums, Superb and atmospheric stuff- savour it.

 

“The Dark Hereafter” CD//DD//LP track listing:

 

1). The Dark Hereafter
2). Pariah's Path
3). Ensigns of Victory
4). Green Cathedral
5). Led Astray in the Forest Dark

 

The Review:

 

Winterfylleth are certainly my favourite UK black metal outfit. They return here with an album that takes in both focused blasts of darkness and epic sprawling soundscapes. With only five tracks, the band has placed all their energy into creating an album of depth without any meandering. The band sticks to the task at hand and make every second count.

 

The rather ferocious opening title track recalls more Scandinavian outfits, while the familiar “Pariah's Path” is given an extra something here. Naturally, this being a Winterfylleth release, the record is best digested through headphones and whilst undertaking some kind of journey (preferably in an area of natural beauty) but it works fantastically as a mood piece played on my front room stereo and much like its predecessors it takes you on a  journey even if you don't set foot outside.

 

“Ensigns of Victory” is a stirring and triumphant sounding track, utilising time changes aplenty and a surprising dynamic range (not easy in BM). The real centrepiece of this album is “Green Cathedral”, though. As good a piece of music as you will hear this year and encapsulating all that is great about the band and all that is great about nature- while highlighting how it gets further away from many of us in our daily lives. The track is epic in scope and performance and it crystallises the bands raison d'etre beautifully. It shifts sounds and moods to great effect and is a perfect soundtrack to the coming changing seasons.

 

“Led Astray in the Forest Dark”  (a cover of Ulver's "Capitel I: I Troldskog Faren Vild") closes this impressive set with some interesting and effective choral type vocals and an excellent mix allowing the bass to shine through. Overall, this marks Winterfylleth's continuing trend of excellent albums- now at number five, discounting the three CD box set of a year or so past. Superb and atmospheric stuff- savour it.

 

“The Dark Hereafter” is available here

 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

 

FFO: Wodensthrone, Drudkh, Fen, Wolves in the Throne Room

Hope Drone - 'Cloak of Ash' (Album Review)

By Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/07/2015

Label: Relapse Records

'Unending Grey' begins with some subsonic rumbles and distant keys before the traditional black metal blast and the Deafheaven meets Wolves In The Throne Room riffs fill the air with ambience. It slows down nicely towards the end (it's an ambitious 20 minute song) and leaves the notes to ring out and cling to the ether.

‘Cloak of Ash’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Unending Grey
2. Riverbeds Hewn In Marrow
3. The World Inherited
4. The Chords That Thrum Beneath The Earth
5. Every End Is Fated In Its Beginning
6. He Waves Forever Shatter Upon Our Shores
7. Carried Apart By The Ceaseless Tides

Hope Drone is:

Karl Hartwig | Guitars, noise
Christopher Rowden | Guitars, vocals, noise and organ
Aaron Pickersgill | Bass
Francis Keil | Drums and additional percussion 

The Review:

Relapse are certainly surprising people with recent releases, this time they've plucked Brisbane Australia's Hope Drone from obscurity to much aplomb. I had heard nothing of this band before 'Cloak Of Ash', suddenly they're the next big thing, let's see shall we?

'Unending Grey' begins with some subsonic rumbles and distant keys before the traditional black metal blast and the Deafheaven meets Wolves In The Throne Room riffs fill the air with ambience. It slows down nicely towards the end (it's an ambitious 20 minute song) and leaves the notes to ring out and cling to the ether. 'Riverbeds Hewn In Marrow' is very similar, I'll avoid the obvious reference to Altar Of Plagues...Damn, it got me! The song speeds during its finality and bleeds straight into 'The World Inherited' and blasts away while retaining the vast atmosphere. Again, it slows down to let everything breathe for several minutes. 'The Chords That Thrum Beneath The Earth' follows with some atmospheric guitar building up to the inevitable blasts. There's some interesting melodies to be heard, the guitars are a key element in this band. 50 minutes have passed and there are 3 songs remaining...strap in, you're here for the long haul! 'Every End Is Fated in its Beginning' builds with a hulking slow riff before some more following of the Altar Of Plagues blueprint. 'The Waves Forever Crash Upon Our Shores' and 'Carried Apart By The Ceaseless Tides' bring the album to an end, the former lasting a brief (by comparison) six and a half minutes and the latter 9 minutes which goes fast part, slow part, fast part, fade out much like every other song on this album.

I'm not saying this is a bad album, far from it! It's damn good. I personally think it is way too long, 4 tracks would have been plenty. Also there's the hype; "they're one Relapse, that automatically means they're awesome" when in reality, there are albums that have been released this year that are way more deserving of praise than this. This will probably make several end of year lists in the metal press, and fair play, it should be in the top 50, but as Chuck D and Co once said, 'Don't believe the Hype'.

‘Cloak of Ash’ is available here

RIYL: Altar of Plagues, Deafheaven, Tombs, Wolves in the Throne Room, Neurosis, Cult of Luna

Band info: Facebook  | Bandcamp

Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestite (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 8/7/2014

Label: Artemisia Records

Celestite, Tape/LP/CD/DD  track listing:

1). Turning Ever Towards the Sun 11:24

2). Initiation at Neudog Alm 05:58

3). Bridge of Leaves 05:08

4). Celestite Mirror 14:32

5). Sleeping Golden Storm 09:02

The Band:

Nathan Weaver | Guitars, Synth

Aaron Weaver | Guitars, Synth

Review:

Wolves in the Throne Room (WITTR) have been honing their craft for well over a decade. Celestite is their fifth full length album release and sees the band veering into far more progressive territory than before with an instrumental companion piece to their previous album; Celestial Lineage. Comprising five tracks, two of which run to over ten minutes, the spacey cover of the album echoes the traits of the album.

A very ambient opening on ‘Turning Ever Towards The Sun’ shimmers delicately for the opening as it expands before a left turn sees the ambience hit a darker note. Brass led tones create an awkward soundscape, as the guitars create a minimal sound reminiscent of some of Ulver’s material on Messe. The opening is almost in two parts as it pulses and pulsates for the second half whilst the unnerving drone continues. Atom Heart Mother Pink Floyd springs to mind as the vastly cinematic and track never loses your attention.

The opening of the album, although dark in places, doesn’t allow you to decide where you are. Second track, ‘Initiation at Neudog Alm’, is far more sinister and menacing as the guitar drone is a lot more intense. The guitars spiral downwards using a definite Stephen O’Malley influence. ‘Bridge of Leaves’ continues the darkness but without the dense guitars. Organ sounds fill the void of the track and the entire dark flourishes spout off the track to create another horrifying mood. As the track nears its completion there is a glimmer of light as the mood lightens.

This mood segues a little into the next epic composition; ‘Celestite Mirror’, this is synth heavy, and as the track moves through it various peaks and troughs, there is a synthesised melody that moves away from the main body of the track. More melody ensues with an almost flute like sound adding more colour to the constantly evolving tableau of sounds. The ending strains of the track see the melodies paired with more droning guitars to take you back to that extremely unnerving place from earlier in the journey. ‘Sleeping Golden Storm’ closes the album with layer upon layer of synthesised strings building towards another epic sounding ode to the vast.

Throughout the album, the journey is epic. Some parts are more exciting than others as some sections get bogged down in their own pomp. However, this album from a band that like to push boundaries is a very good listen. It is lengthy and certainly challenging, but that is certainly enough for you to give it a go. If you are a fan of Shabda, Sunn O))), Ulver or the earlier Pink Floyd material around Saucerful of Secrets and Atom Heart Mother, this is well worth an hour of your time. Get the headphones on and disappear to a different world.

Words by: Dom Walsh

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/wolvesinthethroneroom

http://www.wittr.com/

The Sludgelord News : Wolves In The Throne Room New Album Details

Following the November release of their BBC Session 2011 Anno Domini two-track live 12" via Southern Lord, new recordings from WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM have been confirmed for a 2014 release. Following several months of anticipation, the Cascadian black metal clan comprised of brothers Aaron and Nathan Weaver now humbly unveil their impending full-length release, Celestite.

Taking a different approach than their previous LPs, Celestite is a completely newly envisioned, parallel-universe version of Celestial Lineage, the beautifully blackened fourth studio full-length epic WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM released via Southern Lord in 2011. Celestite arises with a whole new, ethereal approach. There are no drums and no vocals. Rather, deep, heavy crystalline synthesizer journeying, Eno-inspired analog processing and arcane acoustic instrumentation expand upon dimensions folded within the universe of Celestial Lineage. 

The Weavers tell us: "To make Celestite, we delved into the subterranean sonics that are buried in the mix of Celestial Lineage. We isolated them, processed them and took this unearthed soundscape as our starting point. Upon this base we recorded an entirely new album. Some melodies from Celestial Lineage are recognizable, but these familiar sounds appear as ghosts, barely tethered to the original compositions. This new album is an unorthodox foray; a fully instrumental, experimental companion record to Celestial Lineage. We left some work undone with Celestial Lineage. The recording of that album in the Winter of 2011 was a monumental project for us personally, and the creative fire from those recording sessions was still burning. This recording process was an opportunity to journey into our own inner universe to complete that which needed to be completed."

Paired once again with producer Randall Dunn (Earth, Sunn O))), Master Musicians Of Bukkake),Celestite came to fruition at Avast Studios and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM's own Olympia-based studio Owl Lodge. While cloistered during the recording sessions they made use of a mammoth arsenal of crumbling vintage equipment including a Serge Modular System, Korg Poly6, Korg MS20, Korg Mono/Poly, Roland Juno 106, Roland Jupiter 6, Roland Super jx10, Jomox Airbase 99, Access Virus and more. The album also features a guest wind ensemble including friends Josiah Boothby on French Horn, Steve Moore (Earth, Sunn O))), Stebmo) on Trombone, and both Mara Winter and Veronica Dye on flute.

The upcoming release of Celestite is doubly exciting for WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM as it will mark another new venture for the duo; the inaugural release on their own new label, Diadem Records. The band states, "Diadem Records is the imprint we created to release Celestite and future albums. Most importantly for us, working on this album has revealed a whole new vein of creative energy for WITTR. Now that the long trip of creating this album is finished, our appetite is whetted for future projects, thus we feel it necessary to pre-empt the inevitable chatter that will accompany the release of this record. WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM has not permanently abandoned the guitar and drums! We sense that one day -- perhaps sooner, perhaps later -- we will be inspired to return to our stacks of amplifiers and cabinets to create new music."

For more information :

http://www.wittr.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wolves-In-The-Throne-Room/48294546133?sk

Source : Earsplit PR

Wolves In The Throne Room - BBC Session 2011 Anno Domini

Album Type : EP

Date Released : 11/11/2013

Label : Southern Lord

BBC SESSION 2011 ANNO DOMINI, track listing :

A). Prayer of Transformation 10:32

B). Thuja Magnus Imperium 1037

Bio :

Friday, October 21^st, 2011 – one month after releasing their fourth studio album, Celestial Lineage, Wolves In The Throne Room recorded two live tracks at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios. Now, Southern Lord is releasing this session on vinyl, due for a November 11^th release. It seems only fitting that Olympia’s earthen black metal expanders, Wolves In The Throne Room, would add their name to the rollcall of acts who have recorded at the Maida Vale studios, the place where the sounds of contemporary and outstanding artists throughout the last century of popular music have been documented for the ages.

Wolves In The Throne Room’s shadow, cast long and eerie from their campfire of the arcane, eclipses the hordes of black metal clones and drones, hewing raw nuggets of inspired music from rich seams of extreme metal and astral vibrations. ‘Prayer of Transformation’ and ‘Thuja Magus Imperium" are the two tracks recorded on that day, taken from their lauded album Celestial Lineage and spanning two sides of vinyl and twenty minutes.

Entitled BBC Session 2011 Anno Domini, this session is testament to the band’s ability to inspire awe with homespun strands of metaphysical ambience and painstakingly flexed sinews of metal, and is a must for all fans of the band as well as followers of contemporary metal.

Review :  

I'll be open about this: to say that I adore 'Celestial Lineage' would be a mild understatement. So when I first became aware that WITTR and Southern Lord were putting out a couple of live tracks from a BBC sesh that the Weaver boys did in 2011 I pretty much fell over sideways. When I actually saw the vinyl for the first time I got up, dusted myself off and fell over sideways again. That being said, this is real Goosebumps territory for me.

The first side of the wax is taken up by the magnificent 'Prayer of Transformation'. My only complaint from Lineage was that this track, the final piece on that record, actually ended. I never wanted it to. I think to just classify Wolves as Black Metal is narrow in scope; they are elevated much higher that that tag can allow. They come under fire for the eco stuff but I think that the whole commune with nature thing is beautiful, and I agree with many of their chief points about mankind being separated from its spirit / soul.  Add to the fact that they create soundscapes of pure ethereal escapism and I run out of ink furiously trying to sign up.

'Prayer..' builds with simplicity until you feel that you practically levitate from out of your current troubles. Always deeply moving, elaborate and serene. And in the live arena it loses absolutely zero effect from its studio version.

The second side is occupied by 'Thuja Magus Imperium', the cut that maybe got the most praise from the relevant press around the time that Lineage was released. Lacking Jessika Kenney's vocal talents at the opening, does leave you longing, but it isn't of any real detriment as soon enough that familiar drum roll ploughs in and all is well. None of the power of that solo at the mid-point is reduced, and the climactic sequence will still make your heart turn lighter than air.

Picking the two most substantial parts of their last record was an obvious step for the Weavers when this session was played, and I'm happy to report that things turned out suitably mystical. A pure joy to listen to, 'BBC Session...' is an absolute must for any fan of the band, and any fan of vinyl too.

Kudos to Southern Lord in its continued Dominance of 2013 Anno Domini, and eternal gratitude to Wolves in the Throne Room for their vision.

 

Words by : Matt Fitton

 

You can buy it here

 

For more information :

http://www.wittr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wolves-In-The-Throne-Room/48294546133