| | Full Review | Ratings (876) |
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| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | December 3rd 14 |
Something has always turned me off of black metal. I can't quite put my finger on it, it just doesn't sit very well with me. I guess it's just not my style. That being said, I do understand why people appreciate what the genre has to offer and I can't deny the importance of it as a whole. This album, though, as I understand it, is a bit different from traditional black metal in the sense that there are very folk-sounding pieces scattered throughout, as well as some clean vocals too. After one listen, I can safely say I appreciate this folkier style of black metal more than the traditional form. The production is foggy and the sound of it shifts a couple times during songs to accentuate the change from tremolo-picked riffs to acoustic music. There are some droney moments to be found on here as well, and the vocals are distant and full of emotion, focusing lyrically on mankind's lost appreciation of nature. The drumming is actually nicely varied, and the guitar tones fit the atmosphere very well. Wolves In The Throne Room has created quite the album in Diadem Of 12 Stars, and may very well be a stepping stone into faster, murkier, and harsher black metal for many people.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Bedex | September 30th 21 |
A long, continuous bm epic that shows a lot of variety and is a lot stronger than I remember. I would say it only stumbles twice, in its two doomier segments. The first after the superb slower, folkier section on 1, but being salvaged by a well crafted bm acceleration; the second near the midtrack of 3, after which the hellish Ulceratey almost riffage of the end track brings the interest back up. Globally, 1 is epic bm that makes you want to climb mighty mountains, 2 is tortured bm (both vocally and later on in riffs) that makes you feel lost in the blizzard-ridden mountains a la PdH, 3 feels like finding the evil forteress atop the mountain, and 4 is the aftermath of the adventure, starting all haunting and softly melodic (especially with the female vox we were already introduced to once earlier on in the album) with a great soft guitar tone in its intro, then becomes a lot angrier with a hella powerful midtrack riff and a moshpit-inducing segment near the end. Not to be underlooked also the few but very beautiful soft melodic segments really help keeping the album entertaining for its whole hour runtime. For a 2006 debut, really an impressive feat. 4.1
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Inoculaeted | June 1st 20 |
Immersive atmospheres and crushing heaviness. Doesn't suffer from the screeching oppressiveness I
experience with other records sporting the black metal tag. A fantastic post rock album with
black metal and folk ornamentation.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | February 3rd 20 |
That cover is so reminiscent of Twin Peaks. Shame nobody in that town jammed some Cascadian black metal: Wolves in the Throne Room's music would have been fitting to the misty and surrounded by nature Washington town. Preceding Alcest's blackgaze experimentation, this is one of the first attempt at mixing black metal with some crescendocore tropes. There also are folkier touches a la Ulver, reinforcing this close-to-nature atmosphere. The sound is not as distinctive as their further album Two Hunters will be, but this picks up where Weakling left off six years earlier, and is a good way to understand how black metal went from Burzum to Alcest.
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| 4.5 superb | Have you tried jamming Helcaraxe? CONTRIBUTOR | September 21st 17 |
Wolves is one of the few bands who can make such a massive album without much distinguishable variety and still sound incredible. The overall product is ethereal and manages to sound rambunctious and pulsating while being light and fleeting at the same time. It whisks you away into autumn forests colored gorgeous shades of scarlet and auburn, a feeling that would be just as (if not more) evocative off of "Two Hunters".
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| 4.0 excellent | Tyler EMERITUS | January 5th 07 |
Wolves in the Throne Room are a US Black Metal band that lives in a house somewhere in the forests of Olympia, Washington. If you're still reading, please carry on; this album is definitely a lot better than you're probably thinking. The album builds off traditional Black Metal sounds and applies them to the lush structures of Post-Rock, all the while retaining a fairly ferocious folk/black sound. Never too raw for it's own good, never too ambitious for it's own good, Diadem of 12 Stars is an album that takes just the right amount of risks to make it work within a fairly standardized genre.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | heck | January 15th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Avet | October 21st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | El Olam | September 3rd 23 |
| 3.5 great | Tb1114 | April 20th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rick64 | April 17th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Arwuns | April 3rd 23 |
| 3.0 good | Gimbi | March 19th 23 |
| 3.5 great | 2ool | March 14th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lonewolf | February 21st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brains | January 31st 23 |
| 3.5 great | MAB | December 25th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Bard0 | December 14th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | arf | October 25th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skiiddz | October 14th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Bren80 | October 3rd 22 |
| 4.5 superb | DType | July 31st 22 |
| 3.5 great | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | shanks | November 3rd 21 |
| 5.0 classic | ftdiwr | October 26th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Gbhill | October 23rd 21 |
| 3.5 great | Lvxfra | October 23rd 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | August 26th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Jerrad | August 22nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | DadKungFu STAFF | August 20th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunnyvale STAFF | August 18th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | AmonZ | March 3rd 21 |
| 4.5 superb | yayafa | January 29th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hehe | December 15th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | September 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Onyx | August 31st 20 |
| 3.5 great | remi | June 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | June 3rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | GallyP | May 15th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Halez | April 27th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | GamamJ | February 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | CK1991 | January 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | canczar | January 23rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Abraxas | January 10th 20 |
| 3.0 good | sevhar | January 7th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jim1 | January 7th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | kodama | January 2nd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | yoil | January 1st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | jfish226 | November 25th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | LamboGD | November 22nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | iglu | October 23rd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | FakeOne | September 14th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Elros | September 5th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | esav | September 3rd 19 |
| 3.5 great | EJinHD | June 18th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | wrecked | June 15th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | RMHQ | June 5th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Metz | May 19th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | blou52 | March 29th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | lewzis | February 28th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | BeeRyan | February 14th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Nisraak | February 12th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | January 13th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | tyler | December 2nd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | phylyps | November 11th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Gary STAFF | October 13th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | P0laris | September 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Honza | September 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | kevbogz | July 13th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sarah | April 13th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Laen | March 26th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Fear | December 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | DRusso | December 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | SinNanna | November 24th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | borya | November 18th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Tyll | October 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sebe | October 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jeejee | September 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Draehl | September 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faustus | September 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jhator | August 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ckssr1 | August 12th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Elynna | July 18th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Verlix | June 8th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Krvst | April 4th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | emmny | March 13th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | February 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | November 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | YakNips | September 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Henry | September 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | bmelt CONTRIBUTOR | September 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | dvd0bvb | February 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Malchior | February 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | 8genre | January 5th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Madana | November 29th 15 |
| 3.5 great | junyi15 | November 21st 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Feels | November 19th 15 |
| 3.5 great | btati | November 12th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Archaic | October 26th 15 |
| 2.5 average | trve | October 3rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | September 26th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | airbear | August 10th 15 |
| 3.5 great | arcane | June 13th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Steev | June 7th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | cndflg | June 4th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS19 | May 7th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | trvvve | April 30th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Naeveo | December 20th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | SkaCali | November 25th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | boogs | July 6th 14 |
| 3.0 good | adr | July 3rd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nud | May 12th 14 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | March 24th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | tarkus | January 10th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ware | January 9th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | mistercb | December 28th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeg | December 20th 13 |
| 3.5 great | hasv | November 30th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ticsand | November 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | unkle | November 6th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Shayne | October 8th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | craigy2 | October 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | w00t | September 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | joomisy | September 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gnome7 | August 10th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Pagan | June 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | E0N | May 1st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunn177 | April 24th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Hoenir | April 2nd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Trebor. EMERITUS | February 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | tnd | February 16th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | rid | January 23rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Weed | January 1st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Troggy | December 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | leycec | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mcg182 | December 11th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Shiduba | September 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sevhead | August 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | YourDad | July 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Yami | May 27th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Lought | April 28th 12 |
| 2.5 average | smeaf | April 7th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac! | April 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Mike08 | February 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | cloudnx | February 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | gazanga | February 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | ANJ45 | January 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Coast | December 27th 11 |
| 3.0 good | HWBTW | December 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Wael | December 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | lintu987 | December 11th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerbz | November 13th 11 |
| 3.5 great | BcA187 | October 30th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Kenos | October 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | October 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | avaol | October 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Widower | October 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dvst | September 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | YUJOS | September 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | SAPoodle | September 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mendigo | September 20th 11 |
| 3.0 good | pcar | September 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Inveigh | September 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aecial | September 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Vesper | September 3rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Trey STAFF | July 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | true | July 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nacen | April 26th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ev0ken | April 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolves | April 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Manic_ | April 4th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Babyss | February 18th 11 |
| 3.0 good | itchy | February 15th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | amenra | January 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wakalord | December 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Mikanoz | December 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | miked89 | November 27th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aether | November 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | o971 | November 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Mikk | November 3rd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Curse. | October 26th 10 |
| 3.5 great | kruxz | October 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | cuki92 | August 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Valle | June 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Photon | May 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Niels | May 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | XIVIX | April 13th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Karwyn | April 10th 10 |
| 3.5 great | GibTG | January 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | drewkar | January 10th 10 |
| 3.5 great | krazaln | November 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | alt | November 9th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | ameypv | October 24th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | qwe3 | September 21st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Set | September 12th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Ceminon | September 2nd 09 |
| 3.5 great | Lelle | August 18th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | tomr4 | August 10th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Asaura | March 18th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Hewitt | February 10th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Thor | February 5th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | GregBP | January 19th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | superae | January 16th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | natey | October 20th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | McP3000 | October 6th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Essence | September 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | yontar | September 9th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Windows | September 6th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wizard | August 8th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | soneast | August 2nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Bhima | July 22nd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Graven | May 18th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Hawks | March 22nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Ant0 | February 8th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Zoo | January 27th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kodan | December 19th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Altmer | December 19th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | masscows | November 24th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Fainted | November 2nd 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | tuff | October 30th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | disbill | October 14th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | yeahboi | October 13th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | MeowMeow | September 19th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zebra | September 9th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kyle Ward EMERITUS | September 6th 07 |
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