The music of Wolves In The Throne Room is rooted in the traditions of Black Metal, but they subvert the common aesthetic and ideology in order to remain true to their own personal manifestations. Their strong convictions appropriately compliment the confident decisive execution of their sound. This is the sound of paradox, ambiguity and confusion. Catharsis is the objective, not a lilly-white and guilt free existence. Death and rebirth, transformation and enlightenment. They believe that in Black Metal, there is great truth, transcendence and power.
“Our relationship with the natural world is a healing force in our lives. If you listen to Black Metal, but you don’t know what phase the moon is in, or what wild flowers are blooming then you have failed. The music is about wild forests, unfettered rivers, nature: furious and vengeful.”
This “natural” aesthetic permeates the bands every expression, Lyrically, musically, and ideologically. “Black Metal is the cleansing fire that frees us from the bondage of rationality, science, morality, religion, leaving us free to choose our own path…The deep woe inside black metal is about fear that we can never return to the mythic, pastoral world that we crave on a deep subconscious level”
www.myspace.com/wolvesinthethroneroom
Haxan is a Midlands based musical project that mixes dischordant black metal riffing, psychedelic atmospherics and melancholic doom into epic pieces that openly address mans relationship with religion, nature and self. Formed in 2004, the band rarely play live and openly shun most aspects of the modern music business. Their self titled debut album, available later this year will be a varied 40 minute concept piece and story that details the descent into madness and chaos of the main protagonist. Haxan tread a line between many genres to create something fresh and organic and truly emotional. Features ex members of Doom and Police Bastard.
http://www.myspace.com/000haxan000
Taint of South Wales are something of an enigma. Many have striven to place their sound within a handy genre definition, only to find themselves wondering whether a band so dynamic and full of surprises can really be called ‘sludge’, or whether music so antithetical to boredom can justifiably be termed ‘post-hardcore’. Taint’s 2005 full-length debut for Rise Above, ‘The Ruin Of Nova Roma’ was a crafty beast that revelled in contructing such riddles for the listener and, of course, the critic. Pigeonholes are for pigeons, after all. It’s the purpose of great rock groups to not quite fit in.
http://www.myspace.com/taintuk
Poster by Ben Javens