Last night, Wolves in the Throne Room brought forth cathartic release to the extreme. Scaling textured walls built from layered tremolo riffs and relentless blast beats, WITTR provided one of the deepest concert experiences imaginable. An uncompromising passion channeling suppressed emotions, long hidden in the Cascades. With movements both raw and complex, the band weaved through material from their three LPs without a moment’s hesitation.

While these performances were recognizable, their sheer density, exemplified further in the flesh, pushed music outside of the containment of “song” and into a deep seated aesthetic consciousness. Music as a pulsating life force, not to be controlled as separated subject matter but an underlying state to be reveled in, lost in, destroyed in. Wolves in the Throne Room, in developing their caustic and spiraling rituals, conceived as unfurling movements into the darkness, called out higher truths from concealment. The performance was not so much a recital of notes, riffs and routines, but of recovering the twisted roots of longing and sorrow that lie behind artistic expression.

I must also mention the equally impressive lineup that opened for WITTR.

A Storm of Light: Sludgy, drugged out post-metal featuring both male and female vocalists in faithful Neurosis worship. An arty and inspired set that took its time to lay down hypnotic dirges.

Krallice: The band closest to matching WITTR’s post-black aesthetic. Raw, densely layered metal that centered on the hyper-mathematical guitar compositions of the legendary Mick Barr. Very few bands can rival the sheer technicality and evocative atmosphere of Krallice.

Thrones: The wild card of the night, Throne’s set consisted primarily of long extended bass drones accompanied by sparse, angular guitar solos. Experimental and patient, Throne’s sound was distinct and intrigued more than a few awe-struck listeners in the crowd. A strange yet satisfying contrast to the relentless speed of the main attraction.

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