Two Hunters - Sea of Tranquility
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/
5/5 Sometimes you come across a new release that really moves you, that impresses on so many levels it's hard to really put into words just how groundbreaking and refreshing the album really is. Such is the case with Washington's avant-garde black metal upstarts Wolves In the Throne Room and their latest Two Hunters. Southern Lord Records have scooped these guys up now, and that's a major coup for them. After all, this band scored a breakthrough with their debut Diadem of 12 Stars last year, and anticipation was high among the black metal community for a follow-up. So, how does this one stack up? Well, the band is on a creative roll, I'll put it to you that way. Two Hunters is 46 minutes of bleakness, four songs that take you on atmospheric rides through desolate landscapes, as well as bash you over the head with raging brutality. Tracks like the gorgeous yet haunting "Cleansing", featuring guest singer Jessica Kinney, and "Dia Artio", are just drenched in cold ambience and atmosphere, with layered guitars and keyboards providing the chilling backdrop. The epic 12-minute "Vastness and Sorrow" is a scorching black metal beast, sure to please fans of early Emperor, Ulver, and Darkthrone, with juggernaut blast beats, rippling guitar riffs, keyboards, and psychotic vocal screams. On the near 19-minute "I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots", gentle acoustic guitar kicks things off before old school styled black metal hits you like a hammer, raging yet symphonic, with Kinney again putting in a guest vocal during the more mellow sections. Again, the band recalls Emperor on this one, circa 1994, as the arrangements are just beautiful, filled with power, majesty, and brutality, all combined together for a great effect that never gets tiresome over the tracks lengthy time frame.
This is breathtaking stuff folks. Wolves In the Throne Room are really on to something, as they are right now combining black metal, avant-garde, folk, and prog like no other acts on the scene. Two Hunters is going to do for modern black metal what Opeth's Ghost Reveries has recently done for progressive death metal. Outstanding!