Wolves in the Throne Room

Infobox musical artist
Name = Wolves in the Throne Room


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Olympia, Washington, United States
Genre = Black metal
Black ambient
Folk metal
Years_active = 2004 - present
Label = Vendlus Records
Southern Lord Records
Associated_acts = Middian
URL = [http://www.wittr.com/]
Current_members =

Wolves in the Throne Room is an American black metal band based in Olympia, WA. Their sound is influenced by Scandinavian black metal, doom metal, dark ambient, and folk musicFact|date=January 2008. The band has described their sound as “purifying black Metal” or “transformative black metal”, although in interviews the band has shown an unwillingness to be restricted by any musical labelFact|date=January 2008.

Biography

In an interview, Nathan Weaver says that he conceived the vision for the band and wrote the first two songs “Wolves in the Throne Room” and “Black Tea” at an Earth First! rendezvous in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 2002. The band has often performed outdoors and has expressed support for radical environmentalism. [cite web |url= http://www.slate.com/id/2177883/pagenum/2 |title= Deep Eco-Metal |author= Erik Davis |accessdate= 2008-02-04 ]

The band was formed during April 2003 when brothers Aaron and Nathan Weaver bought an old farmstead on the outskirts of Olympia, WA and they then started working on the music that would become the "2004 Demo". Afterwards, Rich Corle joined the band and contributed to what is still the band's current sound. In interviews Aaron states that it was the brother’s goal to create a musical expression of an expanding consciousness that linked the mythic and apocalyptic visions of black metal with “life-changing actions on the physical plane”.Fact|date=January 2008 Nathan Weaver managed an all ages art and performance space in Olympia called Manium. [http://olyblog.net/olympia-scene-report-mrr-293] It was shut down by the City of Olympia in 2007 for safety violations, resulting in a great deal of local protest and controversy. [http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/article/for_print/1117/] [http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/225468.html]

In mid 2004, guitarist-vocalist Nick Paul joined the band and the group recorded the "2004 Demo". This recording featured a stronger crust punk and thrash metal influenceFact|date=January 2008.

Nick Paul left the band amicably in late 2004. The addition of current vocalist and guitarist Richard Dahlen solidified the band’s line-up. The band went on to record the "2005 Demo", and the "Diadem of 12 Stars" and "Two Hunters" albums.

Wolves in the Throne Room has toured the west coast of the United States extensively. In the fall of 2007, the band toured the continental United States. In 2008 the band played on the 13th edition of the Roadburn festival in The Netherlands.

Ideology

The band is well known for their eco-spiritual vision, which they consider to be a step beyond the vision offered by satanic, fascistic and nihilistic black metal. They often state that traditional black metal should be seen as a jumping-off point in a process of continual spiritual growth, and not an end unto itself.

Aaron and his wife farm the land at Calliope, the band’s stronghold. Aaron has often expressed interest in biodynamic agriculture and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner.

The band has expressed bemusement at the myths that have sprung up around Aaron and Nathan’s rural lifestyle. It is often said that WITTR live “in a one room cabin in the woods with no contact with the outside world”. Aaron has tried to set the record straight in interviews: “We don’t live in caves and wear un-tanned animal hides”

Members

*Nathan Weaver - guitar, vocals
*Aaron Weaver - drums
*Will Lindsay - guitar
*Chris Beug - bass

Discography

Albums

*"Diadem of 12 Stars" - 2006
*"Two Hunters" - 2007

Demos

*"Wolves in the Throne Room" - 2004
*"Demo" - 2005

Interview

* [http://www.nocturnalcult.com/WITTRint.htm Interview] (2006) by Bradley Smith on [http://www.nocturnalcult.com Nocturnal Cult Magazine]
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/45864-column-show-no-mercy Interview] (2007) by Brandon Stosuy on [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com Pitchfork Media]

References

External links

* [http://www.wittr.com/ Official Homepage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/wolvesinthethroneroom Myspace]
* [http://www.southernlord.com/band_WTR.php Southern Lord Homepage] on [http://www.southernlord.com Southern Lord Records]
* [http://metal-archives.com/band.php?id=35741 Wolves in the Throne Room] on [http://www.metal-archives.com Encyclopaedia Metallum]