Watain - The Wild Hunt Album Review

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 “The Wild Hunt” absolutely has a great sound. It is hard, heavy and guttural; everything a hardcore black metal fan loves. The slight drawback is the clean sound (at times), which does not coincide with traditional black metal. But, it works. 

Formed in Sweden in 1998, Watain is a staple in the listening of Black Metal. With grainy vocals, speed demon guitar licks and gloomy bridges, their newest release, “The Wild Hunt” is right up a black metal fan’s dark alley.

“The Wild Hunt” absolutely has a great sound. It is hard, heavy and guttural; everything a hardcore black metal fan loves. The slight drawback is the clean sound (at times), which does not coincide with traditional black metal. But, it works.

It begins with a haunting reminiscence of a woodsy quest deep in the valleys of desolate acreage that brims with monsters only a child could imagine. The intro, ‘Night Vision’ is soothingly eerie and a mild preparation for the rest of the album. After all, intros are usually unlike the remaining tracks on any release, and this intro is no different in that aspect.

For example, Track Four, ‘All That May Bleed’ sounds nothing like traditional Watain. Especially, the beginning of the song (which I thought was pretty freaking cool)! There is a Celtic Frost type sound on this album (this song in particular) with catchy leads and changing rhythms.

The best track is ‘Ignem Veni Mittere,’ an instrumental at first with aesthetically, pulse pounding grooves that get in your head. This song is dark and brooding in an artistic sense with many changes that make it difficult to tap along while listening. It then goes into a trudge-like sound that ruminates with an ominous swing.

For new and old black metal fans, this is definitely a CD to add to your collection. It has the right amount of the old school grainy, black metal sound along with some newer, catchy resonances that are sure to pique an interest.
 

Average: 5 (1 vote)
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Writer and reviewer for Metal CallOut.  Favorite sub genres includes: Black, Thrash, Melodic Death, Traditional.  Darlene can be found on @DarleneSteelmanGoogle+ or Facebook.

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