Wolves in the Throne Room, Whammy Bar, 5 December 2019: Concert Review

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Whammy is a sweatsack, there is more moisture than Satan’s armpit. Wolves in the Throne Room enters from stage left, all sleeveless and mainly bearded men. Most of them wearing corpse paint. The band’s multiple backdrops are smeared across the stage, its clear they are designed for much larger stages than our humble Whammy bar. It’s a privilege to see them in such a small venue.

Two brothers, one farm. Nathan and Aaron Weaver. That is the image I had always had of Wolves in the Throne Room. I remember seeing an interview where they talked about pantheism, connection to the soil and their appreciation for the earth. Not ideals usually associated with black metal. Wolves themselves have been quoted as saying they don’t play black metal as they don’t identify with satanism.

For the majority of the show its near impossible to see band members’ faces due their hair. Nathan has a blue light that shines over his Gibson Explorer. Presumably because the regularly play in near darkness.

The show begins with a sample. The beginnings of their next album Thrice Woven. It’s the sound of an instrument that sounds like a mandolin. They rip into Born from the Serpents Eye, followed by Angrboda.

Aaron’s blasts are perfect. I often hear criticisms about blast beats as they are not ‘interesting enough’, admittedly its just a one-two beat. But its provides a backdrop for both chords and vocals in a way that can only be described as dream-like. That’s the thing I adore about black metal, it’s not about the musicianship as much as the song itself. For the most part, its very simple music. But it beckons you in with its ethereal, seemingly endless presence. Wolves are no exception.

Queen of Borrowed Light, a 13- minute epic. The first half is onslaught. Eventually derailing into almost sludge-esque aesthetics as the audience headband along to the slow distorted choir.

Each song is followed by an ambient intersection triggered by Aaron’s computer. I would be hard pressed to explain how this intersections sound. It was experience. One of those ‘you had to be there’ situations.

Prayer of Transformation is almost doom metal in delivery. The drums give a strong sense of security in a consistent beat, while the guitars wander into apocalyptic soundscapes. Points of this track reminded me of Enslaved. There is zero interaction between songs, this is a band that have no other mission statement other than to provide an environment for their fans to inhabit.

Wolves almost exclusively switch between 4/4 and 6/8. There is a sense of security for the listener in this. Its consistent. It allows you to fall into the ocean of sound that washes over you they are creating, without surprises. Its not technical music at all.   I’d even go as far to say it’s traditional in spirit. Aaron has previously said a huge influence for them is Burzum (purely musical, nothing ideologically). It’s not hard to hear this. Continuous chord structures, simple progressions and a whole lot of blasts, all over his Tama kit. All the fundamentals are there.

Wolves finale is I Will Lay My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots. Well over a quarter of an hour long. Although something tells me they wouldn’t give a shit if their fans liked it or not. Either way, a much-loved song amongst their discography and a wonderful song to finish with. Wolves have openly admitted their adoration for Neurosis, the later part of this song is almost a homage to Neurosis. Every second was a treat to behold. It is the closure to their debut album Two Hunters.  Their writing is patient. The song doesn’t feel the need to give you everything you want in the here and now, but rather encourages you to just swim in the oceanic wall of noise they are offering. There was a brief encore after they had walked off stage, but this quickly dissipated once the audience realized this isn’t a band that wanted to repeat themselves.

Honestly is hard to describe this show in plain English. Wolves are clearly a band that cares deeply about their craft, but deconstructing each song seems like an injustice to what they are trying to achieve. I highly recommend any metal fan checking out this new album. The live show is sincerely something to behold.

Additionally, I just want to give a shout out to Ben, the promoter. He is bringing the world’s best metal acts to our wee country and completely deserves recognition for his hard work.

~Benjamin Morley

Throne of Wolves Set List

  1. Born From the Serpent’s Eye
  2. Angrboda
  3. Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
  4. Queen of the Borrowed Light
  5. Prayer of Transformation
  6. I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots
Benjamin Morley
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