What do a lion and a king have in common? I wouldn’t know, but I’m sure the four gentlemen in 1349 will have an answer for us. We know that this Norwegian cult band has no interest in anything that is or sounds innovative within black metal. Ravn, bullhorn in charge, stipulates and thus even states that the reason why 1349 was held above the baptismal font years ago, in 1997, is harking back to the early ’90s, to everything that sounded dirty, filthy, grimy, rough, raw and robust. The Wolf And The King is the successor to 2019’s all-consuming album, The Infernal Pathway.
Of course, it can hardly go wrong if you look and read who is still contained in the ranks of this band, but okay, that may be too premature a conclusion. It is true, however, that with this latest release 1349 wants to send a lot of clear messages into the world. They do this, for example, by referring to alchemy (hence the album title) and a repeated reference to the number eight and not just because this is in fact album number eight. Once again, the lyrics are by Svartalv, the man who has supported the band from the shadows for the past 20 years.
Frost immediately rolls up his sleeves, Ravn makes his vocal chords vibrate while Siedemann makes his bass rumble. However, it is the screeching, rather typical lines from the hand of Archaon that are impressive. The gentlemen have a patent on caustic and bloodthirsty riffs from the stuffy old box, and on every record there is at least one riff that sets the whole place ablaze. The variations in playing on this The God Devourer at least suggest the best. Shrill and squeaky soloing is not forgotten either on this nevertheless slightly chaotic, but very strong opening track. Ash Of Ages lays a thick, almost impenetrable layer of dust and ash on everything you love. You could call it a thrashy black metal number. 12,000 years ago, a meteorite popped onto our globe at a high speed, resulting in what is known as “The Great Flood” about which much has been written. Perhaps this set humanity as a whole back thousands of years, at least that is a common theory. I am not one to delve in such matter, but hey, rather interesting thought.
Surely, for virile and subtle play on guitar or drums, you should not come to this Norwegian vermin. Despite this, the technical execution is very strong. Just listen to the mishmash of ideas and rhythm changes in Shadow Point. Something they repeat on Inferior Pathways. Gurgling and throbbing bass violence partly takes care of the intro of Inner Portal.
The Norwegian company 1349 always guarantees an unadulterated jar of top shelf misery. Once again, this eighth album The Wolf And The King should not be missing from your blackened collection. Compared to their previous work, the band continues along the same path, which is a good thing.
Score:
85/100
Label:
Season Of Mist, 2024
Tracklisting:
- The God Devourer
- Ash Of Ages
- Shadow Point
- Inferior Pathways
- Inner Portal
- The Vessel and The Storm
- Obscura
- Fatalist
Line-up:
- Seidemann – Bass
- Ravn – Lead vocals
- Archaon – Guitar
- Frost – Drums
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