 | Tracklist:
1. Syrgenstream
2. Leodum On Lande
3. Heofungtid
4. Those That Crush The Roots Of Blood
5. Black Moss
6. Upon These Stones
7. Pillar Of The Sun
8. That Which Is Now Forgotten
Release Date: 2009 | |
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On 25 Lists
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3 of 3 thought this review was well written
One can almost be forgiven in thinking Wodensthrone’s style of pagan black metal is highly inventive and original. Almost. The band’s promotional material claims that Loss is an escape from the ‘modern complexities and uninspired cookie-cutter “product” turned out by the current black metal scene’, but in actual fact the record is very much a product of the modern black metal scene, and not even a clone in the enjoyable sense of the word. While initial impressions of the album can be rather high (I will vouch for this), it simply takes until the end of the first song to realise that Wodensthrone are just another one-trick pony hiding an average album underneath pagan imagery and proclamations of distinctiveness.
Now that might have been a little harsh – there is certainly some fun to be found here. If the typical black metal sound (I may be snubbed for using the term, but here it is: ‘true’) does not appeal to you and you would rather synth and lame gimmicks as a side dish to your ‘blakk noiz’, then Wodensthrone have everything going for them. Still, considering my distaste for this new wave of bland and overproduced albums that are made for greater consumption (an ideal which goes against the very root of black metal itself), I cannot possibly bring myself to see what is good about Loss. Admittedly, the concept is rather interesting – knowing that this particular black metal niche is awash with Slavic and Germanic pagan nonsense, it’s cool to see the Anglo-Saxons marching forth with their banners raised. The album does not so easily fall into the conceptual traps that have troubled other pagan-influenced bands; despite its many shortcomings, Loss is not essentially cringeworthy (i.e. Wyrd’s recent Kalivägi). Still, the overly ‘epic’ attitude the band has is not entirely convincing, and when you take into account ‘modern’ black metal acts such as Panopticon who have some real substance behind their album concepts, Loss really struggles to hide its mediocrity.
Despite quite enjoying the first song, the second track dispels any notion of awe when it is very literally birthed by its preceding track – in other words, it really is hard to distinguish between the two tracks, and the same goes for almost every single song on the album. While it may be argued that this provides for a fluid album, one which progresses at a leisurely pace, I simply have to take a stand – listening to Loss is essentially listening to one song, repeatedly. No track (except for perhaps ‘Black Moss’) can be differentiated by some interesting element, be it a musical hook or particular riff. Each track just blurs into one long and boring mess, combining the dullness of the recent Wolves in the Throne Room release Black Cascade with the sickeningly synth lathered Om by Romanian heathens Negura Bunget. The synth is really just irritating – instead of actually trying to create a worthwhile atmosphere during the so called heavier moments, Wodensthrone rely on a coating of synth which merely dulls the entire album. It removes all the intensity one could possibly derive from the already lifeless composition, and then does its best to estrange the acoustic interludes from any level of profundity.
When one actually can make out the guitar lines underneath the artificially imposed synth, the tedium really shines through. Perhaps not being able to write interesting guitar lines was the main reason behind the album’s reliance on the relentless synth – as mentioned before, only ‘Black Moss’ had any semblance of compositional endeavour that could be fathomed by however many times I tried to enjoy the album. The thing about Loss is that it really goes out of its way to be an easy listen – while this may appeal to some, if you already listen to black metal and your expectations reflect any extent of black metal history, you will be disappointed with this record. If the monotony does not affect you (or if the case may be, you don’t actually find it monotonous) and the annoying barked vocals don’t trouble you, or you generally enjoy these kinds of watered down pagan drivel, I guess Wodensthrone should be at the top of your ‘To Buy’ list. Me? Well I’m just going to stick with my Drudkh and let these unruly Brits try to appease somebody else.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
written oct 2009
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
was waiting for you to post a review like this
Digging: Mount Eerie - Clear Moon | | |
this review is like 2 years old man
Digging: Insane - Wait and Prey
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
yeah i know but still
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was waiting for you to post a review like this
this review is like 2 years old man
yeah I've almost finished posting my DC backlog (or at least the reviews that are decent enough to repost)
got 3 left
when I look back, I feel I didn't give this album too much of a chance. I did try to listen to it all the way through at least 10 times, but my opinion from the first listen to the tenth listen remained the same. too late now though, because I'm sure if I listen to it now I'll hate it more
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Album art is gorgeous. Pretty good review considering it was written 2 years back.
Digging: Between the Buried and Me - Colors Digging: Between the Buried and Me - Colors
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
you make some pretty valid points, but a 2.5 is fairly harsh
Digging: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pamyu Pamyu Revolution | | |
Album art is really neat
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you make some pretty valid points, but a 2.5 is fairly harsh
yeah, review could be better though. i spend too much time talking about how the songs sound the same, which shouldn't be such a big part of the criticism
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
yeah, it definitely runs together but i still find it pretty enjoyable. i like the overbearing epic synths, but the acoustic sections are not that interesting to me
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these guys are from my hometown
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
do you embrace paganism
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occasionally
| | | Album Rating: 3
the vocalist is from my old hometown :] yeah as far as music like this goes there's way better but i still find this really enjoyable, especially with the inclusion of plenty of synth.
Digging: Weakling - Dead as Dreams Digging: Weakling - Dead as Dreams | | | Album Rating: 3
album art is best thing about this
Digging: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham | | |
Great review, agree with this.
Digging: Cremation Lily - Cremation Lily Digging: Cremation Lily - Cremation Lily
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ah i was really looking forward to listen to this. don't think i will now anytime soon
Digging: Om - God is Good Digging: Om - God is Good
| | | Album Rating: 3
then why do you have it rated as a 4?
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oops sorry, i seemed to have mistaken this for another album a while back. i haven't heard this, i'll unrate it for now.
| | | Album Rating: 3
no worries :]
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