In 2010 I saw WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM playing live for the first time. Two times in a row actually. Both shows have been mind-blowing, kind of a revelation to me. Since then I got no other chance to catch them anywhere around.
Well, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM did not tour that much in the past. Their short split up or hiatus was followed by a rather average “companion album” to their 2011 opus Celestial Lineage. Afterwards it became pretty silent around the band. From today’s point of view it was somewhat like the quiet before the storm as WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM returned with Thrice Woven, a striking masterpiece, released last September.
Their first European tour in support of Thrice Woven already brought them to the :: Gebäude 9 :: in Cologne. Now they embarked on the second European stint around the summer festivals. And this time I moved heaven and earth to make it happen to see the wolves playing live again.
The ride to Cologne once again was like having the devil and the deep blue sea in once.
Crazy traffics and a fucking heat. Inside the venue we got embraced by tropical temperatures and humidity so that my lenses steamed up. Nevermind! The show was just as awesome as expected and worth every effort.
:: pics :: WOLVENNEST ::
:: WOLVENNEST :: so far I only noticed at the edge of my musical horizon. Mostly, when they were full-bodied announced at famous festivals such as Roadburn. The band’s support slot on this tour pushed them straight in front of my nose. Thank Buddha, the just discovered sophomore, Void, is an exceptional gem of music. And I expected not a bit less from the live performance.
Now it became dark and mystical. Burnt incense delivered fragrancy, bones, a skull and other paraphernalia created an occult atmosphere, while remarkable sceneries flickered on the screen behind. The visualization was often the only source of light. The space on stage was as marginal as the light. So, the acting of the sextet was rather restrained. The atmosphere was perfect to let loose and to get fully into the music. Psychedelic Black Metal. This was highly intriguing, fascinating and absolutely mesmerizing! And I loved to watch singer Shazzulah creating tones with the Theremin. Have not seen that instrument used so excessive, it is unique that way I think. But excellently suits the music. Unfortunately, the sound was quite unbalanced and her singing as well as more fragile melodies hardly to hear.
This show has been a 50 minutes run of nothing less than just pure magic. WOLVENNEST and their second album Void are highly recommended! Awesome!
Setlist: Silure, Ritual Lovers, Unreal, Void, Out Of Darkness Deep
:: pics :: WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM ::
Right after, the stage was quickly cleaned. :: WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM :: did not bring much of a deco to the stage. Marginal lights, a lot of smoke and some incense to ritually clean or bless the stage. I think, it was sage, and it did not smell halfway as good as the lemon-like fragrancy of Wolvennest.
The core members of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, the brothers Weaver and Kody Keyworth, were expanded live by another guitarist and a keyboarder. Every single one of them entered the stage with a bottle of wine, except for Nathan, who also brought a cup (of tea probably, to oil his vocal chords, but did not see him drinking from this one).
Again, it took only seconds to get put into a trance-like state. Everybody was sucked up and catapulted into another worlds far beyond. Space and time were forgotten.
Since the Black Metal part in the music of WITTR is much higher, the show turned out more dynamic, frantic at times. Drummer Aaron played with a power and vehemence that left me speechless. Also the keyboarder contributed drum beats. Both, accompanied by a massive sound of wall formed by three guitars and shifting ambient soundscapes. It all created an utterly immersive atmosphere, where everybody in the venue lost itself in the band’s music. The sound was now much better balanced so that even single guitar melodies and quiet ambient interludes were perfectly to hear. One hell of an intensive listening experience.
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM played three songs from their masterpiece Thrice Woven, plus another two from the stellar Celestial Lineage. Done this, the official playing time was already over. But, since 60 minutes are a bit meager for a headlining show, WITTR returned on stage with the 18 minutes I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks And Roots from the band’s sophomore Two Hunters to deliver a triumphant and epic finale.
There is surely no other Black Metal band out there right now that translates its spirituality, sound and music live so perfectly and magical as WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM do. Together with WOLVENNEST an exceptional band package to create a memorable concert night I will keep in mind for a long time and always remember.
Setlist: Thuja Magus Imperium, Born From The Serpent's Eye, Angrboda, Fires Roar In The Palace Of The Moon, Prayer Of Transformation // I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks And Roots
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