Wolves in the Throne Room

About

Also known as: WITTR, Wolves in the Throneroom

Wolves in the Throne Room built their reputation on channeling the raw, fog soaked energy of the Pacific Northwest into atmospheric black metal, and few bands in the genre do it with as much deliberate intensity. Formed in Olympia, Washington by brothers Aaron and Nathan Weaver, they blend Norwegian and American black metal traditions with folk, doom, and ambient textures, often weaving in guest vocalists like Persian classical singer Jessika Kenney to striking effect. Their debut Diadem of 12 Stars caught Southern Lord's ear and set the template, but Two Hunters and Celestial Lineage are where the band really hit their stride, the latter called "American black metal's idiosyncratic defining record of 2011." Their 2014 release Celestite pushed things in a more experimental, synthesizer driven direction, described as an atmospheric companion piece to Celestial Lineage rather than a straightforward metal record. They came roaring back with Thrice Woven in 2017, earning the Best Underground Band prize at Metal Hammer's Golden Gods Awards in 2018. Their most recent full length, Primordial Arcana, arrived in 2021, showing no signs of the band losing their grip on that dense, elemental sound they've made their own.