VÁN
The seeds of Belgium’s Wolvennest were first sown by songwriter Michel Kirby in 2015, whose experimentation with instrument loops evolved into a six-person collective. Album three is a bolder incarnation of their hypnotic ritualism. Opener Mantra slowly sways into focus, a slow-burn séance that, for more than 12 minutes, conjures cinematically atmospheric environments to wander in. Swear To Fire follows brazenly with vocalist Sharon Shazzula performing a Hammer Horror occult rite. By contrast, Incarnation is dead serious, an emotive waltz with a lush updrafts of pealing guitars. The darkly svelte Succubus features the gothic baritone of King Dude’s TJ Cowgill and closer Souffle De Mort is an echoridden sanctuary, its arches disappearing into darkness above, reaffirming the mesmeric nature at the heart of Wolvennest. Temple is a boldly triumphant record that benefits from yet bigger riffs and everincreasing confidence.
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