Album Review: 1349 – The Wolf and The King (Season of Mist)

‘The Wolf and the King’ is the eighth album of Oslo-based black metal band, 1349. One that sees the band harnessing the primordial energy of black metal’s decade-defining second wave and channelling it through ancient mysteries and the relentless global chaos of the 2020s. It was released on October 4th, 2024, via Season of Mist.

The black metal domination that 1349 have shown each and every release so far continues with even more garish force on this new album. Staying unflinchingly true to their sound and black metal traditions, all while continuing to perfect the nuances so that a release like this still has some notable freshness.

Something that all purveyors of traditional black metal struggle with, of course, and 1349 are no different. Yet not many bands manage to balance a sound that is both old school and modern in different ways, something 1349 make a notable faucet of this release.

Opening the record with something blackened and brutal, 1349 offer little in the way of surprises with The God Devourer. No complaints though, it’s the first of many devilishly dark and wickedly twisted efforts. Showcasing a more measured approach from the band with guitars that have some harmony and work well with a chaotic style of drumming. All while the vocals howl in a way that is almost catchy, especially when the chorus hits.

While the idea of 1349 having any aspect that can be called ‘catchy’ is absurd, the word is being used very liberally here. Mainly to highlight the impressive blackened rhythmic structure of a track like Ash of Ages and Shadow Point. The darkness consumes quickly and there’s a confidence to 1349 that continues to make such a torrent of hellish and horrid heaviness a delight to hear.

There’s also an urgency to their sound which keeps things ticking along nicely. Leading to the most ferocious effort yet, Inferior Pathways. This, the cacophony of instruments, is 1349 at their most feral sounding. Garish speed, brutalising heaviness, and a thick blackness that coats every aspect of the song. It is, like most of the album, a 1349 special.

With ice in their soul and fire running through their veins, 1349 offer up something quite ceremonial with Inner Portal. There are elements to this track that betray black metal traditions, but also elements such as the drumming that sound ripped straight from the early 90s. Again, it’s that balance of eras that 1349 have perfected. Leading into the turbulence created by The Vessel and the Storm, a vocally proficient effort with more story-telling props.

Then, having laid waste to the mind already, 1349 pour blackened scorn into every remaining crevice with the violent and ugly sound of Obscura. Before showcasing more experimental elements with Fatalist and ending the album in almost ritualistic fashion. A very clever finish, especially as 1349 ramp the blackened heaviness up for an explosive outro.

1349 – The Wolf and the King Track Listing:

1. The God Devourer
2. Ash of Ages
3. Shadow Point
4. Inferior Pathways
5. Inner Portal
6. The Vessel and The Storm
7. Obscura
8. Fatalist

Links

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