It’s a chilly and foggy autumn evening in London, which I would say is the perfect weather for a night of moody, ambient Black Metal. It has been just a few weeks since Wolves in The Throne Room released their 8th album “Estuary”, another excellent entry in their discography.
As fans very slowly start to enter O2 Academy Islington due to some very thorough security checks at the main door, Final Dose crashes the stage delivering raw, relentless black metal. Wearing hooded masks and corpse paint and with no time to chat with the audience, they deliver a succession of blast beats and screams that has everyone headbanging and ready for the rest of the evening.
Branding a huge sword, a cup of wine and with make-up, Florida-based Worm finally has their London debut! After releasing their acclaimed “Necropalace” earlier this year, the group spearheaded by Phantom Slaughter is not only about the theatrics, as they deliver a killer set filled with guitar solos and heavy riffs.
As the lights dim down and a dense smoke takes over the stage, Wolves in the Throne Room joins the stage during the beautiful atmospheric track Crown of Stone. It sets the mood perfectly for the rest of the set, as the chilling riffs of Estuary take over and have everyone headbanging. Contrary to most black metal acts that sometimes draw too much attention to themselves during their set, Wolves in the Throne Room has a more restrained type of performance, which only enhances their music when played live.
Angrboda is another high moment of the evening, with its blast beats and Nathan Weaver screams doing the work and The Old Ones Are With Us, a personal favourite, is perfectly executed. To wrap up the evening, the epic, 18-minute track I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots sends everyone back home hoping that it won’t be long until Wolves in the Throne Room is back again for another night of nature-inspired Black Metal.
Wolves In The Throne Room
Set 1
- Crown of Stone
- Estuary
- Ghosts Among the Obelisks
- Angrboda
- The Old Ones Are With Us
- Eostre
- Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
- I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots