WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM „“Black Cascade””

Music: Black Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Web site: www.wolvesinthethroneroom.com
Cool Songs: Wander Above the Sea of Fog, Crystal Ammunition

Prolific USBM act WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM return with their third album, “Black Cascade.” Number three shows WITTR at its most stripped down phase, at least in a black metal sense. “Black Cascade” doesn’t contain the folk metal elements present in past releases. There are no female vocals. Nope, here we find straightforward black metal—gnarly and grim.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM may have ignored its organic side on “Black Cascade,” but the group still varies their music enough to keep it interesting. A four-track album usually denotes a short EP, but this one clocks in at nearly fifty minutes. Because every song weights in at over ten-minutes long, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM needs to keep their music moving keep away the throes of boredom. Each track undergoes numerous changes, creating chapter-like parts.

One technique Wolves use to keep their music interesting is through riff building. “Ahrimantic Trance” includes only a couple of riffs, but these riffs undergo a number of changes. Ear-piercing feedback brings in the track, which leads to classic icy-toned guitar licks and drums with the earth rumbling magnitude of two ancient armies rushing to battle. The speed remains, and then the group create a vortex of whirling noise, only to return to its wicked beginning. Then the cycle begins again, only with slight difference. The vortex of noise returns, spreading a mysterious electric fog at the track’s ending.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM has always instilled their music with a certain dark emotion that only black metal of this sense can convey. Although there are no traditional instruments, they generate an assortment of moods through keys, unconventional rhythms and scathing guitar tones. Also each track includes at least one slow, expermintal part, which takes each track in a different direction.

The atmosphere of “Two Hunters” and “Diadem of Twelves Stars” seemed more grounded in the physical side of nature, while “Black Cascade” appears headed into a metaphysical stage, and for this “Black Cascade” doesn’t quite measure up to past efforts. Still, “Black Cascade” shows enough innovation and fierceness to keep their status as one of the premiere black metal artists, anywhere!

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
2. Ahrimanic Trance
3. Ex Cathedra
4. Crystal Ammunition
Total playing time 49:16

Line-up

Nathan Weaver – Vocals, Guitar
Will Lindsay – Guitar, Backing Vocal
Ross Sewage – Bass
Aaron Weaver – Drums