I get lots of emails popping into my inbox everyday. More often than not, they read something along the lines of “Hey, I’m in a band, please review us”. While these emails usually do the trick pretty well, it’s always refreshing to receive an email with a little more depth – even if it’s just a couple of paragraphs describing the music. This is the kind of email I received from Cryptic Throne… and, from just a couple of well-written paragraphs; I knew that I had know more. Hell, I had to HEAR the music!
“The Wolves Gather…” was added to my iPod a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been allowing it to percolate in my mind ever since. There’s nothing like listening to an album repeatedly and allowing your subconscious to explore every little nook and cranny that the music has to offer… and this is exactly what I’ve done with “The Wolves Gather…”.
It would be easy to describe the music here as Black Metal and be done with it. It would, afterall, be relatively accurate. This one-man band hasn’t created a new subgenre here or tried to mix in unusual elements. There’s a sense of familiarity and, yet, there’s also an uniqueness.
The album opens with “The Wolves Gather” – a track that is introduced (rather fittingly) with wolves howling. This creates a haunting atmosphere that builds and builds with some magnificent eerie tension. That tension is severed when “To Die Within The Earth” kicks in. While this isn’t the most memorable track on the album, it still packs a decent sized punch.
“Ascension” builds into a savage Black Metal assault and the tortured, yet oddly empowered vocals tear through raw rhythm section. “I Lay in the Shadows I” is an instrumental piece that takes you back to that haunted place where the album started. It’s an odd pause in proceedings – a lull in the storm, if you will. The illusion of safety is shattered when “To Death and Beyond” begins. While it is a quiet track, its still menacing. I find that I’m always slightly on edge whilst listening to it. It’s as if I’m waiting for something to jump out of the shadows and attack. Once “Ancient Hymns” starts, the awaited attack happens. And, although I mentally prepare myself for it each time I listen to the album, it still comes as a shock. “Ancient Hymns” is a monumental Black Metal track and, at the moment, it’s my favourite on the album. For some bizarre reason, the chord progression in places reminds me of the soundtrack to “28 Days Later” (or it may have been “28 Weeks Later”… either way, the films are excellent and this track is excellent).
“Dressed in Witches Blood” is a typical Black Metal track with very few surprises. But, I like typical Black Metal tracks so this little beauty leaves me in a morbid state of happiness. “Swallow The Stars” has an effective, yet unstated melodic quality – proving that there is beauty in darkness. “The Black Hand of the Devil” is another slice of harsh, yet creepy Black Metal and I find that it fights for the top spot with “Ancient Hymns” (although, “Ancient Hymns” still wins… there’s just something about that track!).
We’re treated to another instrumental interlude with “I Lay in the Shadows II”. Once again, I find myself on edge – waiting. Waiting to be torn to shreds by some otherworldly demon or ripped apart by wolves. My metaphorical violent demise is brought about by the album’s closing track, “In the Ruins… We Remain Thriving”. An intense and unrelenting piece that insures that the name Cryptic Throne will forever be imprinted onto your memory.
So, while Cryptic Throne may not be breaking boundaries with this release, the music here does show that in order to create a good album you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You don’t have to invent new subgenres or blend in bizarre (and often ill-fitting elements) – instead, you can just do what you know and love and refine it. Take it to the next level by showing inventive songwriting and composition techniques. Create atmosphere. Focus on music. As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoy listening to this album – it one that I can easily return to again and again.
“The Wolves Gather…” will be released on tape by Metal Throne Productions very soon. There will be a limited hand-numbered run of only 50 copies (so, if you want one – get in fast!). The CD will be released by Victory By Fire towards the end of August.
Rating: 91%
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