CD Review: Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

Written by Ray Dunkle Tuesday, 14 February 2012 15:09

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Artist: Wolves In The Throne Room
Title: Celestial Lineage
Genre: Ambient / Black Metal
Release Date: 13th September 2011
Label: Southern Lord

Album Review

As every student knows when the Romans said “paganes” they meant the countryside people -from “pagus” trs. countryside - a special kind of people who by living in small communities had developed an animosity towards the civilisation, the letters, the arts, philosophy, etc. Of course poets like Horace glorified them, but this was (and still is) a common attitude during every stress point of History.

What all this has to do with the fourth LP of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM? The band takes the notion of paganus and very conveniently addresses it through the eyes of the Christianity, to be in touch with the neo-pagans. So, the “pagan” lyrics here speak of a largely mythologized world, primitive, and boring, simple and naive not least due to the glorification of the holy trees. In an ironic twist exactly for these reasons the band comes very close to the ideas of the backward peasants of the Roman world. Apparently for the band the civilisation can only be seen through negative lenses, and the only possible solution remains to return into the caves or jump from tree to tree showing thus our respect for the molested Mother Nature. All that stands under the pompous and rather pretentious lyrics that prove the band to be standing on the surface of anything that could have some significance for the audience.

And yet, what the band surely misses in terms of lyrics, it grasps it in terms of music, where the Ambient and Black Metal elements are harmonically combined, along with the vocals that is, to delve into an elliptical approach of the world and their themes. At times lyrical, other times aggressive, even from the opening ‘Thuja Magus Imperium’ you got the feeling why this band is among the very best ones. Atmospheric Ambient transfused to a multitude of directions in an effort to engulf as many aspects of music as possible within the genre. The short intros work as introductory layers to more sophisticated and theatrical Black Metal aspects and the riffs are as heavy as medieval bells. In short, the WITTR in their latest part of their trilogy, are having a stunning performance albeit not with their lyrics. Its atmospheric and evocative, interesting sound makes more than enough for that flaw so the impression remains good throughout.


Tracklist

01. Thuja Magus Imperium – 11:41
02. Permanent Changes In Consciousness – 1:54
03. Subterranean Initiation – 7:09
04. Rainbow Illness – 1:28
05. Woodland Cathedral – 5:26
06. Astral Blood – 10:16
07. Prayer Of Transformation – 10:57


Line-up

Nathan Weaver – Vocals / Guitar
Aaron Weaver – Drums / Bass / Guitar / Synth
Jessica Keeney – Vocals


Websites

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


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10