ORDER OF THE WOLF - A Plague On Conservative Houses (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

Despite bolstering a catalog that is notably minimal in scope, Scotland's Order Of The Wolf is one of my very favorite black metal bands. I was initially quite impressed with 2020's split with Pessimista, and my admiration of Order Of The Wolf's half has only grown of the past few years--when looking for a little blackened fury, these tracks are first on the menu every damn time. As such, word of a new track was cause for much excitement. Originally released on the excellent Black Metal Rainbows charity compilation, this single--"A Plague On Conservative Houses"--was most certainly worth the wait. Over the past few days I've listened to this song fairly incessantly, and I don't anticipate slowing down anytime soon.

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As we have come to expect, Order of the Wolf delivers a confidently aggressive barrage. The guitars are thin but not weightless, and remain appropriately rimed with a delicate frost. The drums churn forward at a furious gait, lending a sense of urgency that is mirrored by the outspoken current of the inordinately articulate lyrical content. The vocals are as stellar as always, harshly yet never overstrained or overextended. And, as I've previously mentioned, Order of the Wolf is a master of planting persistent melodic moments in the blistering onslaught--here, that is perhaps more true than ever before. 
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​"A Plague On Conservative Houses" hits a forthright emotive peak at the chants of "No gods! No masters!" The subsequent refusal and rejection of oppressors--elected fascists, ​bigots in power, public school bastards,  conservative wankers--is a definitive battlecry that, particularly on repeat listens, practically demands a little audience participation. As aforementioned, the lyrics are exceedingly well written and pointed in their ire, and while lyrical content is not typically at the top of my priority list, it feels uniquely inextricable here. 

With every new Order of the Wolf release, I proclaim that it is my favorite Order of the Wolf release. That pattern clearly continues here. ​"A Plague On Conservative Houses" is a wonderful and furious track, a direct encapsulation of black metal's intrinsic heart and soul. Highly, highly recommended.

 Order of the Wolf - A Plague On Conservative Houses was released Dec. 2nd, 2022 (originally Nov. 4th 2022 via Black Metal Rainbows.)

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