Wolves in the Throne Room are an American black metal band from Washington lead by Aaron and Nathan Weaver. These brothers have released several dark and atmospheric records as WITTR and this live release features two tracks from their 2011 album "Celestial Lineage." I picked up this release on vinyl because it featured both of my favorite tracks from Celestial Lineage.
The first track "Thuja Magus Imperium" starts off the same way as the album but without the haunting female vocals. Some say these are greatly missed from the live album but I think it gives the song a different tone to it. It feels darker and emptier which works perfect in the context of WITTR. This is how they play it live so it is fair to give the listener the proper experience and I enjoy having both versions to listen to. The performance is executed very well and the production is distinct but still raw as one would expect. The guitar solo is spot on as well.
The second track "Prayer of Transformation" is my personal favorite of theirs. It is one of the most unique tracks WITTR has put out besides their interludes. It is slow and almost reminiscent of doom metal. The listener is able to feel more of Nathan Weaver's emotional screams and the lead guitar accents the vocals very well. The song builds very nicely and has an excellent finish.
I definitely recommend this for WITTR fans even if you have Celestial Lineage. This release along with their Roadburn release shows WITTR's skills in the live setting very well. I think the biggest strength here is the proper production. It isn't too raw nor is it too produced. It is messy and raw and everything one could hope for from Wolves in the Throne Room. The vinyl edition is also great because the discs are to be played at 45 rpm but when your player to 33 rpm, it sounds equally awesome and intense.
