Label: Clobber Records
Origin: Nottingham, England
In defiant dissidence of the old standard, Wolvencrown blackens the throne of traditional metal royalty. A Shadow Of What Once Was is a bimodal British Invasion of heresy, decreeing towering extreme metal in public, while executing ominous chain-rattling dungeon synth in private chambers.
Despite its relatively short runtime, clocking in under 20 minutes, A Shadow Of What Once Was conquers plenty of territory. Catapulting off of familiar grounds, the EP opens with a traditionally mid-tempo barrage of noble riffs. Abrasive shrieks dictate insidious commands just as sinister organs emerge to energize the melody. These gilded orchestral leaves signal the arrival of heavy symphonic bars of gold in subsequent tracks, and the track returns to cathedral-worthy power chords before seamlessly transitioning to “Part II.” Reigning with decadent distortion, menacing riffs and punitive growls inspire terror among the listening class. Occasional pace variations create sonic space for artful percussive fills, while leg-braced blast-beating keeps the song within the confines of law and order. Minor chord-driven passages spill anxiety-induced adrenaline into the epic track’s corridors until the halls burst with a flood of ethereal conclusions.
A Shadow Of What Once Was Wolvencrown - A Shadow of What Once Was (Full EP) - YouTube
The final moments of “Part II” usher in dying-wish, celestial orchestral soundscapes. Flawlessly blended into final track “Coming to an End,” elegantly layered strings waft mournfully through the palace. Dull thumping drums impart a sense of medieval austerity into the track, marrying atmospheric emotions with pagan tradition. Angelic synths provide uplift for the dolorous fog, but the steady beating and low-end bass ground the track firmly within its dark ambient kingdom.
A Shadow Of What Once Was is a wintry citadel of black metal and dungeon synth, luring the inexperienced listener with traditional extreme riffs and vocals only to bewitch them with an elegant orchestral concluding track. Wolvencrown defy regal commands to orbit around the extreme realm, competing on a conventional battlefield before freeing their gilded gladiator from the bastille of the time-honored black metal pit.
FFO: Burzum (all eras), early Dimmu Borgir, Jesper Kyd (ACII soundtrack)