Review Summary: Between the blastbeats, distortion and drones, all that is left is interludes, chimes, and female Vox. But i got my money's worth. Washy yet screechy guitars, Wolves In The Throneroom's 4th Album is a beautiful child of American Ambient Black Meatel. A Sh
WITTR's latest release is something of spastic darkness and shoegaze molestation moments, all in the perfect smoothie of grubs and Zaxby's fried chicken. Heavily distorted guitars, gut wrenching vocal screeches and scrawls, This is the world of Black Tar Metal,and it truly is a beautiful experience.
"Thuja Magnus Imperryum" starts to album off in a very blue astral plane, with female vox similar to that of Enya. This evolves before the 4 minute mark into the spastic darkness i was talking about earlier. The calmness is catapulted into this new territory and it is a very brutal experience, many listeners would either be turned on/off at this point, but this is where WITTR's style shines showing us was true Washington Metal is all About. This Spawlatatious Battle rages on until the 7minute Mark hits, the battle is transported from dungeons and demons, to scaling icy mountains and cold potato stew. What could easily be the soundtrack to the Lord of The Rings, is now a ringing pulsation of negro vibrations. This track clocking in at almost 12 minutes, is most persomboningly an enlightening experience. Did i mention the death toll killed you already?
"Thuja" is the first impression of the album being the first track, and its safe to say, its a very decent, memorable, yet spacey approach. To me, this was how most of the album came across. 5 of the tracks off the album take this approach, which causes the initial sound of the album to blend together. Instead of the tracks taking individual qualities, the albums flows as one piece,one large battle scene, which dubs it a clobbering experience with light-hearted interludes and tendencies.
The album has 2 interlude tracks being "Permanent Changes in Consciousness" and "Rainbow Illness" are both quick handjobs in a truckstop bathroom with little to mild satisfaction.
"Subterranean Initiation" starts off strong and flighty, but towards the 4 minute mark, it just sounds like Nathan Weaver throws his guitar across the room and plays Mortal Kombat really loud to annoy his parents. A feeble attempt full of teenage angst and hunger tantrums.
"Woodland Cathedral" is probably the most beautiful track, with fairy chimes and gnome rectum ticklings, which blend together well with the Elf like female grope vocals in the background. A calming and soothing effect on the body which can cause drowsiness. Probably my favorite track.
"Astral Blood" is alright
"Prayer of Transformation" being the last track on the album is clearly a rip-of of Tera Melos and Boris all together.I can believe Southern Lord let them get away with covering a Kelly Carpenter song. The guitar drones are very pretty and cute, and the vocals are a higher focal point, but i am left disappointed that it is all over so soon. This song sounds literally like the ending to a SpiderMan movie. The vocals are very haunting. Just when you think its over, the frequencies rise and rise, then abruptly stop.
Over all i was pleased with this album, i just wish it was longer. Between the blastbeats, distortion and drones, all that is left is interludes, chimes, and female Vox. But i got my money's worth. Washy yet screechy guitars, Wolves In The Throneroom's 4th Album is a beautiful child of American Ambient Black Meatel. A Shadow Child Dissolves in the Darkness.
