Oh, sweet dark father of all that is unholy I bow down and give you thanks and praise for a new record. The Norwegian black metal masters in 1349 have seen fit to bestow their eighth studio album and latest offering of pure evil The Wolf & The King on us. It has been far too long as far as this Satan worshipper’s concerned since we’ve heard from the band. Getting my hooks into this disc had me all hopped up like a Texas high school linebacker on beer and painkillers! As soon as I pressed play, I knew I was not gonna be disappointed.
With each single the band released I could feel my excitement building, so naturally I was in heaven when I got my grubby mitts on it. Right away opener “The God Devourer” displays a band that is back, and back to destroy everything in its path, your neck included. “Ash of Ages” was and is this guy’s favorite track and is worthy of repeat listens. You add “Inferior Pathways” to this already potent sonic Molotov cocktail thus far and something is going to burn; maybe your stereo, maybe your ears. Either one works for me!
With “Inner Portal” I felt strong Behemoth vibes, not a bad thing by any means. Hell, we’ve just kicked the sinister vibe up a few notches. “The Vessel and The Storm” was another strong song on a record full of them. This bleeds seamlessly into “Obscura”, setting us up for blood. Closer “Fatalist” is an absolute masterclass in black metal that ticks all the boxes of darkness. Bottom line is this: 1349 are back with sharpened fangs and an evil thirst, hell bent on evil, fire, and mayhem. Get this one with a quickness!
Standout Tracks: All of them!