What makes Malevolent Grain by Wolves in the Throne Room notable?

The album garnered significant attention for its ambitious composition and production quality, distinguishing it from typical black metal releases. Critics praised it for pushing the boundaries of the genre, with publications like Pitchfork noting its depth and atmosphere, contributing to the band's rising prominence in the underground metal community. Released on January 1, 2009, Malevolent Grain is Wolves in the Throne Room's third studio album, following their acclaimed 2007 release, Two Hunters. By this point, the band had solidified their position within the atmospheric black metal scene, further developing their unique sound that blends nature-inspired themes with heavy instrumentation.

How many songs are on Malevolent Grain?

Malevolent Grain has 2 tracks, running approximately 23 minutes.

Malevolent Grain

Wolves in the Throne Room · 2009

23 min · 2 tracks · black metal

A haunting blend of atmospheric textures and relentless black metal ferocity that immerses the listener in a dark, expansive soundscape.

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Top tracks — play these first

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A Looming Resonance — This track exemplifies the album's expansive sound through its lengthy build-up and immersive texture, showcasing the band's ability to fuse ambient elements with intense metal passages.
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Hate Crystal — Offering a more aggressive approach, this track captures the raw energy and emotional weight characteristic of Wolves in the Throne Room's style while maintaining a rich atmospheric backdrop.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The EP showcases ambitious compositions and strong production, standing out in its genre while maintaining a cohesive atmosphere.

What we noticed

The EP features two lengthy tracks, each over six minutes, allowing for extended atmospheric build-ups and dynamic shifts.
The vocals are predominantly harsh and growled, interspersed with moments of clean singing that add contrast to the aggressive instrumentation.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 A Looming Resonance 13:01
2 Hate Crystal 10:38

What to play next

Listen next

Black Cascade

2009

Go back to

Two Hunters

2007

Full Wolves in the Throne Room discography Where to start with Wolves in the Throne Room Artists like Wolves in the Throne Room

atmospheric black metal black metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata