When artists are labelled ‘ambient metal’ you would generally think that it would be music with a lot of synths with effect-layered guitars and drums driving them. This generally seems not to be the case with the standard apparently set by Burzum’s prison albums, and it is ok to make an dark, concept-inspired, atmospheric synth album now and label it ‘ambient metal’. I’m not so sure about that, but let’s get to Wolves in the Throne Room.

This is a band that has spent their career creating black metal with ambient undertones and interludes, but their latest album ‘Celestite’ is purely ambient and synth heavy with the minimal addition of guitars. The difference is that Wolves in the Throne Room did not go to prison, so why did they take a step in this direction? Paying homage to the progression of Burzum’s career maybe?

‘Celestite’ would evidently seem to tell a musical story then, something from the first few dark notes of the album actually does pretty well. The notes are well crafted and grandiose, and progresses in a dark manner that could provide the soundtrack to an independent sci-fi horror film. The music smoothly progresses into more uplifting and relaxing sweeping synths to dark beats struck with ringing guitars, and there is no doubt this music is well performed and constructed. The problem is that it’s boring.

There are 5 tracks on the album with 3 of them clocking over 10 minutes. Given Wolves in the Throne Room’s previous efforts, you are just expecting something to happen…some blast beats and fast rhythmic guitars to enter, but it just doesn’t. The tracks kind of fade out without anything really memorable happening, perfect music to mix into something with a visual accomplice, but something that you wouldn’t really want to listen to unless you need dark ambience as inspiration for a dark creative art.

If you are a fan of old school Wolves of the Throne Room, I wouldn’t bother. If you enjoyed Varg Vikernes’ prison songwriting, there might be something in this for you!