Veteran Norwegian black metal juggernaut 1349 returns with The Wolf and The King, a record that reaffirms their commitment to the raw, visceral essence of black metal. With their eighth studio offering, the band continues their campaign to preserve the grim sonic hallmarks of the genre’s early nineties Norwegian roots while adding their own alchemical twist.

Opening salvo The God Devourer sets the tone with mid-paced, sludgy death metal licks. The track leans into some Morbid Angel-esque dissonance, offering a throwback to nineties death metal heaviness. It’s a solid opener, though not groundbreaking, but as we’ve come to expect from 1349, they’re not here to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they burn it, crush it, and let the infernal flames carry it forward. The band’s tried-and-true formula of grim, no-frills black metal is established early, with Ravn’s guttural growl and Archaon’s riffage locking in like a war machine.

Things elevate with Ash of Ages, where Frost‘s relentless drumming drives the track forward with an almost inhuman ferocity. This one’s proper black metal – grim, frosty, and utterly unrelenting. The icy atmosphere envelops you from the start, but it’s the sheer momentum of the song that will keep your head nodding. Seidemann‘s bass rumbles beneath it all, providing a seismic foundation as the band delivers one of the album’s most headbang-worthy moments.

Shadow Point dials things back momentarily, proving that pacing matters to 1349. The song starts with a brooding, almost hypnotic riff that builds slowly before bursting into full-bore blackened chaos. The chugging riffs that slowly fade into earshot are expertly handled, and the track’s evolution into a speed demon is exhilarating. It’s one of the more dynamic moments of the record and showcases the band’s attention to songcraft.

Inferior Pathways might be the track that unleashes 1349’s full, bestial savagery. They go for broke, hammering the listener with an unrestrained barrage of riffs, blast beats, and Ravn’s vitriolic vocal delivery. There’s no room for subtlety here, just primal energy, and, quite frankly, the band is at their best when they’re cutting loose like this. No points for taste, full points for metal, as expected from these veterans.

Inner Portal offers some respite initially, with a bass-heavy intro and an interesting push-and-pull dynamic between the band members. The tension between Archaon’s riffs and Frost’s chaotic drumming creates a serpentine undercurrent that winds its way through the track, making it a standout moment on the album. The interplay between dissonance and groove feels more calculated, resulting in a punishing yet triumphant song.

The Vessel and the Storm delivers a chaotic storm of its own, with some of the most unforgiving riffing and frenzied drumming on the record. It’s a cacophony of black metal brutality, but amidst the whirlwind of sound, there’s something almost catchy at the song’s core. A faint chorus emerges from the madness, adding just enough structure to keep things grounded before they plunge back into the abyss.

On the flip side, Obscura struggles to find the same footing. The more progressive leanings in the opening fail to connect as effectively as the rest of the record, and while the pace picks up eventually, it feels like the least inspired track. The ideas are there, but the execution doesn’t quite hit the heights we’ve come to expect.

The Wolf and The King closes with Fatalist, an all-out bludgeoning of the senses. Ravn’s rasp, Archaon’s razor-sharp riffs, and Frost’s pummelling drums combine in a manic display of everything that makes 1349 the juggernaut they are. It’s the perfect way to end the album, leaving the listener in a frenzy, craving more of the relentless assault.

While The Wolf and The King doesn’t veer far from 1349’s established template, the execution is fierce, and the band’s dedication to their blackened craft is undeniable. In a world where black metal has often strayed into more experimental or polished territory, 1349 proudly maintains the flame of tradition, delivering a solid album with moments of true brilliance. Grim, cold, and utterly unforgiving, this is black metal as it was meant to be: raw and real.

The Wolf and The King releases on October 4th.