Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Watain The Wild Hunt Company: Century Media Release: 2013 Genre: Black Reviewer: ChaosLord

Best thing they've released thus far

It is very rare that a black metal band inspires me to be truly amazed at an album they release. So many of the black metal albums that come out have the same formula--cat like screechy vocals, distorted and fuzzy guitars, blast beats everywhere you turn and an overt affinity for Satan. Well fellow bangers, Watain breaks that mold and takes black metal to a whole new level with The Wild Hunt. This album is the band's most evolved and the best thing they've released thus far.

For pure black metal fans, the album is full of enough venom to make a black mamba jealous, yet has moments of haunting beauty and eerie melodies. A change for the better, there are multiple melodic guitar harmonies throughout the record and on the album's two instrumental tracks, "Night Vision" and "Ignem Veni Mittere", showcase the bands multi-faceted musical talents.

Infernal fuel must have been used to create the other hellish tracks that make up this record with the exception of one song, "They Rode On". This song is the polar opposite of the other tracks on the album and what your typical black metal song is made of. Clean vocals are the first startling change with this track. The length is the second mind blower, this track clocks in at almost 9 minutes long. Leave it to Watain to craft an epic black metal song that isn't 9 minutes of typical evil. Finally, the melodies and the song writing on this song are so intricate and incredible that you have to listen to the song multiple times to truly appreciate the song.

With a bit of a different style to a few tracks, Watain still retains your hellfire black metal style while making it all their own. This album is one that you should definitely take the time to listen to on headphones and one that you must buy.