About a month ago I drove two hours each direction with a friend to the small city of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Now I'm sure there is actually something to do in the city, but I went to the outskirts in the middle of nowhere. It really was Bumblefuck, PA. I pulled up to a tiny little firehouse with only 100 people in it for one of the best shows of my life. The band was obviously Wolves In The Throne Room, who else could it have been? The venue was cover in candles, animal bones, and amps(wholly shit they had a lot of amps). The band was incredible, the atmosphere and ambiance was unlike anything I've ever experienced, and I was just a few feet away from the Weaver brothers.
I tell this story because it has particular relevance to this blog. The band was on tour promoting it's newest album, "Celestial Lineage".
It should be well known that I love this band, seriously I'm a fanboy. The final part of the trilogy that began with 2007's "Two Hunters", "Celestial Lineage" does well to incorporate themes and sounds that have been part of said trilogy. Really atmospheric black metal, beautiful melodies, wonderful female vocals, and a lot of awesome to be found on these two LPs. If you like Wolves, you'll love this; I'd say the best since their debut.
The record is gorgeous as well, really great presentation. As you can see above, it comes in a nice gatefold with the beautiful cover art without obstruction. The band name and album title are on a Japanese style obi strip that is not part of the sleeve, it's a nice touch.
Open the gatefold and you find more cool art. The nature theme runs throughout all the bands' work and is very fitting to their music.
And the back cover shows the Weaver brothers looking almost a part of the natural landscape they find themselves in. The back of the obi shows the track listing. It's all very well done.
I only got this shitty picture because it was so dark and they don't allow flash photography.
The record is gorgeous as well, really great presentation. As you can see above, it comes in a nice gatefold with the beautiful cover art without obstruction. The band name and album title are on a Japanese style obi strip that is not part of the sleeve, it's a nice touch.
The picture sleeves have more of the artwork, which again fits the theme. I picked up the gold wax edition, of which there are only 500. I don't know why, but I just love colored vinyl. Southern Lord did a great job with this album, not to mention the band for writing this opus, so go get it! Southern Lord Store
