Metal Monday: Wolves In The Throne Room Trace "Celestial Lineage"

posted in: Reviews & Playlists • Rock

For some time in the metal community, there has been a divide between those who do things traditionally and those who work outside of the box. Historically, there aren’t a lot of bands that bridge this gap (at least not immediately). Wolves In The Throne Room are the exception. While they technically play black metal, they don’t share much else in common with that genre, style or culture. As they’ve addressed in numerous interviews over the last few years, they don’t really believe in the black metal imagery, and they choose not to participate in many activities deemed as “the norm” for the metal community, including moshing at shows.

Stating that Celestial Lineage is a big departure from WITTR’s previous material would be a bit lofty, but there are certainly noticeable differences from what had become typical for the band over the course of three records. Previously, the band had played somewhat straightforward atmospheric black metal. Lots of thick textures over the top of buzzing, tremolo-picked guitar lines, hardened by unrelenting blast beats and machine-like drumming. These sounds are still present on Celestial Lineage, but the band adds even more to the mix. The most striking addition can be heard in the very first section of music on the album where choir vocalist Jessika Kenney makes her chilling entrance, which provides an absolutely haunting vocal performance alongside a sparse atmospheric intro.

Considering that WITTR like to separate themselves from the norm, the production on Celestial Lineage sound remarkably like what seemingly all black metal bands try to sound like: raw, noisy and evil. As low-fi as the album might seem, it’s quite well mixed. Everything gets plenty of room”nothing is being swallowed by anything else. There’s a considerable amount of texture blending amongst instruments, but it appears to be completely intentional (and to great effect). Nathan Weaver’s vocals have improved from “very good” to “among the best” in the band’s latest release”further refining an already evil and forceful vocal, finding new ways to emote beyond the common themes. In the most subtle of ways, the vocals convey a remarkably wide rage of emotions, including, but not limited to: rage, despair, hatred, loneliness, solitude, perseverance, triumph, melancholy and more.

The last, and perhaps least obvious, dynamic change that WITTR has made for Celestial is the songwriting. Previously the band employed more of an elongated, but somewhat standard, form for their songs. Four long, slowly progressing songs per album. A solid approach that did the trick. This time around, however, they’ve broken up the material much differently (though they’ve still got some lengthy tracks). The atmospheric breaks fit quite nicely into the music, and the choir break found in “Woodland Cathedral” is a fantastic change of pace. Unfortunately, the way they have written and structured the material for the album makes it seem like its over too soon, almost as though it hasn’t properly resolved. What few flaws can be found on Celestial Lineage are trivial at best, and as the third and final installment of a trilogy, it is certainly a fitting crown jewel. An incredibly tight, yet organic, performance by a band that has truly come into their own. I wish I had four arms so I could give this more than two thumbs up.

If you want to buy some merch, snag it straight from the band. If you want to snag a listen at the new material and read some more words about it, head on over to NPR where they’re streaming “Woodland Cathedral” and come back and tell us what you think.