Written by: The Administrator
As documented here and anywhere else I spill my unsolicited opinions about music: I love a split. I love the complexity of interaction, I love shared environments, I love the spirit of collaboration, I love how they represent mutual beneficiality in such clear and concise form. I love the interplay and inherent differences between styles and personalities that become apparent when viewed not in isolation, but rather in community. Splits are special and all-too-oft underappreciated, and no one shall convince me otherwise. And while nothing in the world of underground black metal feels particularly inevitable, a split project between Kentucky's Wolven Daughter and Scotland's Order of the Wolf feels like a natural meeting of minds. Both lupine monikered solo acts can be identified by a shared outspoken leftism and antifascism, but sonically, this split is an exercise in aesthetic contrast. As a result, both shine brightly in their own lanes--neither steps on what the other is accomplishing, and the three tracks from each band give good insight into their respective sounds. The overall listening experience feels textured and full.
Wolven Daughter fires things off with a rawness that feels increasingly trademark. Capturing this tone is practically an art at this point. I know that Violet records in a self-described "decrepit attic" with "the worst equipment possible," but without being forewarned with this knowledge, I would have assumed as much. Her side is raw, often bitterly and blisteringly so, with production quality that can best be described as "recorded on the melted husk of a Fisher Price microphone unearthed from the rubble several decades after a house fire." In other words: the good stuff. This is supremely lo-fi across the board, and frankly feels as real and raw and tangible as music can get. There's a real tactile charm to such audio quality, and it creates a closeness that feels immersive in a very direct sense.
We've discussed Wolven Daughter's earlier forays--check out our review of the project's No Grace But Through Torment here--but regrettably didn't review 2024's Gospel of the Claw. Said album felt like the sharpest distillation and realization of the vision, particularly in the riff department. Here, Wolven Daughter is in similarly fine form. The riffs are stripped bare, and thus hit with a sharp intentionality. Moreover, the guitar is instantly catchy in a way that continues to surprise me--that central motif in "Wrath of the Black God" has been thoroughly lodged in my brain for months. The ability to write such potently forthright riffs is a real skill, and Wolven Daughter is a prime example of the arresting power of engaging riffage. It feels primordial, like the earliest evolution of black metal riffage hewn from the Pleistocene permafrost. Guitar aside, however, Violet's vocal performance is stronger than ever, raspy and harsh and patently tortured. "Tower of Dread," which may qualify as my favorite Wolven Daughter track here, begins with a stuttering vocal effect that adds a mechanical menace to the overall vibe. This track is notably unsettling, which says a lot. If someone says a song sounds "evil," but it is any less invigoratingly intense than this, I'm not impressed. And lastly, Side A closes out with the "Our Flag Flies Black," which starts off a little more dour and plodding, but quickly ramps up. I particularly enjoy the drums on this track--they ride off the guitar quite nicely, and the clanging cymbal feels notably present, punctuating with a clarity that I quite enjoy. And here's the beauty of a split: that was killer, but we're only halfway done. The suddenly-melodic transition to Order of the Wolf is a little jarring, providing a necessary seam in the fabric between two fundamentally distinct sounds. For those unfamiliar, Order of the Wolf doesn't release new music frequently, but any new song will inevitably secure a position among my absolute favorite black metal tracks of the given year. I still listen to 2022's "A Plague Upon Conservative Houses"--reviewed here--whenever I'm in the mood for some fire and fury. Order of the Wolf leans into the more melodic side of the band's sound with a clear focus on engaging leads that cut through the churning noise. I really enjoy how the three tracks herein have a listenable clean-but-not-sleek quality, both in terms of production and songwriting. "Death of the Elite" features an array of delightful catchy moments littered throughout, with a triumphant lead and some healthy bass keeping things entertaining across the breadth. It's a great track, but the best is yet to come. While Order of the Wolf has never a slouch when it comes to creating sticky moments, the excellent "Mother Nature Will Have Her Revenge On Us All" boasts a chorus that is far hookier than I could have imagined--I adore when black metal embraces the catchy moments, and there's a lot here that sticks around far after the track has ended. It's a very strong song. And not to be outdone, closing track "JSS" boasts a near-singalongable chorus that almost sounds built for pissed off group participation, as well as an unexpected yet welcome soaring solo. But this is not all to say that the aggression has been tempered. Please don't say in the newspaper that I said the aggression has been tempered. There's a fiery bite on display, particularly in the the vocal quality and the frenetic motion. Regarding the latter, the sheer sense of rampant urgency displayed across the breadth is pretty damn incendiary. All gas, no brakes. Balancing frenetic energy with these catchier moments is a real feat, and Order of the Wolf executes beautifully. I dream of a full album of this stuff. In the past few years, Wolven Daughter and Order of the Wolf have had successful splits to their respective names. Recency bias notwithstanding, this is my favorite from both. The contrast between styles makes for an multifaceted and interesting listening experience, and the tracks here represent some of the band's very best work to date on an individual basis. You can't ask for more than that. I'm unsure how likely it is that anyone reading this review is new to this split, but in the off chance you are unfamiliar, dear reader, I highly recommend checking this one out. Wolven Daughter x Order of the Wolf - Wolven Daughter x Order of the Wolf was released March. 21st, 2025
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