Malevolent Grain
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Wolves in the Throne Room. Malevolent Grain EP. 2009. 4.5 stars.
Ahead of their long-awaited Black Cascade album, due March 31st, Wolves in the Throne Room have readied this vinyl and limited CD release featuring two lengthy tracks of avant-garde black metal. Following the progressive tinges of 2007’s Two Hunters, Malevolent Grain masterfully weaves drawn out tremolo riffs with thick, naturalistic atmosphere and the unusual interplay between beautiful female vocals and ravenous metal howls.
The first half of the album features “The Looming Resonance”, where Jamie Myers lends her wistful, almost Celtic-inspired vocal performance to lumbering, mid-tempo musicianship. The effect is stunning and suspenseful as she sings of wandering souls and falling darkness, a progressively epic narrative that strikes a tragic and romantic tone. Like pioneers against the wilderness, the collaboration here has ventured down risky ground. The result is rewarding though, as the band has found an incredibly unique and emotive sound rarely seen in the genre, wherein pastoral beauty melds with existential dread.
The second half consists of the more traditional and sinister “Hate Crystal”, a ten minute opus that opens with a barrage of punishing blast beats and wraith like screams, bringing us back to the ravaged core of WITTR’s performance. The propulsive riffs and percussion are majestic in their delivery, sounding organic and dense despite their minimalist composition. It somehow manages to sound raw and refined at the same time, as the passion of the band is laid bare across a serene backdrop. The track latter dissolves into lingering ambiance as the percussive rolls slowly cool off, leaving eerie drones in their place. It feels as if an incredible peak has been reached, as the rough trail behind has faded into fog.
Fans of Wolves in the Throne Room will find comfort in the organic sounds of this EP. While its variations on the atmospheric black metal tradition are subtle, they still mark the band’s progression towards deeply spiritual and ecologically-conscious artistry. If the Malevolent Grain is any indication, I have nothing but high hopes for their upcoming full-length.