Lately here at the network we’ve been on quite an exploratory journey with music. We’ve been going all over the place all for the sake of the “blackened” moniker. We have had, of course, some bands a little more blackened than others if not more so black metal. Well today we get back to our roots in a strong figurative sense and perhaps even a bit of a literal sense. Earlier this month the ever so wonderful and amazing one woman, DIY anarchist band Wolven Daughter released her very first, and arguably much highly anticipated, full length, Gospel of the Claw. Wolven Daughter here are very careful about falling into the natural trappings of black metal though. We still get our classic vocals and the cold, harsh instruments being recorded possibly in the worst conditions possible but Wolven Daughter kinda tweaks this a bit. While perhaps the early bands of yore talked mightly of their influences, perhaps even not, Wolven Daughter wears them as badges to make their own sound. Within these songs you’ll be going all over from the days of Hellhammer and Bathory to the 90’s and maybe even more modern day bands like Khold. From the first notes of the aptly titled, A Wolf Age (intro), Wolven Daughter grabs you with her sharp albeit cold fangs much like a death hound sent for your soul. From this point on she has you and there is no escape which is the point of Gospel of the Claw. Its harshness mixed with melody create this wonderful atmosphere that demands your attention every time you turn it on. You’ll be hearing with each new listen something different. And finally we think Wolven Daughter is doing something important that alongside the likes of Karnstein are doing with vampires, queering back werewolves. Perhaps it’s not entirely the intention but from the cover to the title of the album and the songs within, Gospel of the Claw is nothing short of queer ass werewolves and we love it. It serves as an important reminder that these beings aren’t for anyone else to take and muck up and that they can be taken back and used for such wonderful imagery.
