1349 – The Wolf & the King

The Norwegian black metal stalwarts 1349 have been a force to be reckoned with these past many years, and this fiery eighth output of theirs is yet another solid and tightly executed affair with plenty of venom and sinister power to it. To these ears, The Wolf and the King contains a little more finesse, intricate details, and depth compared to several of its predecessors, and it flows incredibly well in the overall perspective. An abundance of surprising turns and clever twists keeps the listener engaged throughout, and the eerie opus maintains it momentum for the most part. Things really start to gel when the catchy “Inferior Pathways,” which is the fourth track on the disc, rears its head and conjures up a grandiose feel and an atmosphere that reeks of satanic vigor and unrestrained evil, effectively making the preceding three cuts sound like a bit of a slow start. This particular tune is bound to whip a crowd into a frenzy in a live setting – it is as simple as that, really. Other standout moments occur in the terrifying “Obscura” and the mesmeric “Inner Portal.” Keeping things varied and compellingly dark is something this skilled ensemble from Oslo has perfected over time and nowhere is that more evident than on The Wolf & the King.

Robust, focused, hellishly intense, and showing much musical imagination, their upcoming LP is 1349 at the height of their creative powers, and there is no lack of confidence or alluring qualities anywhere in sight. Tempestuous and attention-grabbing black metal performed with class by top-notch musicians and veterans of the genre – how could anyone possibly resist something like that?