Wolves in the Throne Room is a new band from Olympia, WA whose style is reminiscent of the old school black metal sound. Like those contemporaries, their DIY production gives it the sound that is characteristic of black metal albums of the late 80’s and early 90’s. Unlike those contemporaries, they also incorporate elements of folk and soft passages that create an atmosphere. After listening to Diadem of 12 Stars, I can say that this is an album that cannot involve skipping tracks, as it is only a four-track album. Rather, the listener has to immerse themselves and let the music take over.
Upon looking at the tracks and the length of each track, the first thought that came to mind for me was Opeth’s Morningrise. Just by looking at the tracks alone, one can see the parallels between them. After listening to Diadem of 12 Stars, it seems clear that Morningrise is more of an influence than I originally thought. Each track on the album is like trying to find a way out of the dark forest where you are willing to try anything to find an exit. With the traditional black metal sounds mixed in with the soft, atmospheric parts and some folk elements thrown in for good measure, every song seems like a new adventure. The traditional black metal vocals are complimented by the haunting witch-like female vocals and the self-production of the album by the band only adds to the ambience of a rough recording reminiscent of early albums from bands like Burzum and Mayhem. Granted, the female vocals could have been more audible at times, there isn’t too much that I can complain about with this album.
With a name like Wolves in the Throne Room, it is clear that they are not trying to be the next Cradle of Filth, nor are they trying to compromise their sound to larger record labels. Too experimental to be called just black metal, Wolves in the Throne Room take the formula Opeth used on Morningrise and add their own elements of black metal and folk metal along with the atmospheric elements perfected by Emperor and Ulver to create perhaps one of the best black metal albums since Mayhem’s De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas.
