While I'm gratified to see a little coverage of a movement that is among the most interesting and creatively significant to emerge from rock-derived music, reality compels me to note that Wolves in the Throne Room are not one of the black metal bands deserving of much in the way of recognition. They're not doing anything new or particularly outstanding. Musically, they remain almost entirely derivative of DarkThrone and Burzum, probably the two most widely imitated bands in the genre (though lacking the instinct for dramatic composition that made those earlier acts so powerful). The 'folk, goth, ambient and environmental samples' that Davis seems to think are unique have been genre staples at least since the early 1990s (though they were, in fact, to be found in the works of even earlier pioneers, notably Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Bathory).

Likewise, their environmental views are hardly unique in a scene noted for its embrace of a heathen revivalism, feral naturalism, a Romantic idealism and political fascism. DarkThrone's Fenriz, Burzum's Varg Vikernes, most of the members of Emperor and Ildjarn/Sort Vokter have been on the record as supporters of radical positions on ecological issues. Fellow Pacific Northwesterners Windham Hell, who released a series of wildly creative black metal albums in the mid and late 1990s took a similar stance.

Where Wolves in the Throne Room differ is not in outlook, but in elevating environmental consciousness to the status of a record-selling gimmick. What's really new here (and with a handful of other Southern Lord bands, notably Xasthur) isn't the music (which is painfully unoriginal) or the ideas (which are a caricature of a single facet of what we've seen from black metal for 15 year or more), but how the music and ideas are packaged for marketing purposes. Southern Lord's staff has deep connections with the indie scene, and much of the success of the label's marketing arm has been based on making use of those connections to market their bands to indie fans. Southern Lord also learned a great deal from the marketing tactics that worked for indie bands, so you get both the sort of viral publicity stunts designed to make every appearance an EVENT! as well as the more mundane tactic of getting favorable write-ups from old pals in strategically chosen hipster outlets (this article, for instance).

The result has been a lot of interest in some fairly uninteresting bands, but the interest is coming largely from quarters that have no historical interest, connection to or understanding of the genre. It's an excellent model for short term profit, but not much of a model for sustained artistic relevance. Or, for that mater, any artistic relevance at all.

I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Metal has too long been segregated from other musical genres. I think Southern Lord is doing good stuff in bringing this music to a wider audience.

It's always irritating when mediocre bands get a load of attention and acclaim just because they happen to be out touring now, or well-marketed. But this always happens with music, which suffers from a particularly acute form of presentism.

I disagree. Metal has thrived creatively precisely because it has been able to avoid the pressures inherent in navigating the mainstream. As a result, metal has been absolutely uncompromising in a way that really isn't matched by any other contemporary genre, pushing the boundaries both sonically and conceptually. An alliance with indie may make for better record sales, but it sure as hell hasn't made for better music, the expectations of the indie crowd being enormously limiting but on a musical and ideological level.

In response to the comments by "Planetary Eulogy..." Are we listening to the same band? Wolves in the Throne Room are derivative of Dark Throne and Burzum? You clearly need to listen to their albums much closer if you’ve ever even heard anything past some mp3 sample on the internet. Wolves in the Throne Room skillfully craft 15 minute plus epic songs that surpass many of the original black metal bands in regards to arrangement and musical composition. I’ve been listening to Burzum and Dark Throne for many years. I love those bands but for better or worse, their music is much more straight forward and raw, very different from WITTR. The energy and intent I feel from Wolves in the Throne Room’s music is very, very different then that of a band like Gorgoroth.

And if you have read anything about this band’s politicks you would know that their views are extremely different from bands like Emperor or Burzum. According to their Wikipedia page, they're into Feminism and Left Wing Environmentalism. They despise right wing politicks or the idea of racial purity. This is with out a doubt an anomaly in the Black Metal scene.

As far as the bands ecological and political views being some sort of a “Gimmick.” I think this is a very daring assumption probably based on ignorance and jealousy. Do you believe that in reality WITTR actually all live in suburban apartments and eat fast food? In all the interviews I’ve read, the members seem extremely sincere about their views. Be careful judging people when you know little to nothing about them.

With your line of thinking, one could just as easily say that the anti Christian politicks and actions of the early Black Metal bands were simply a “record selling gimmick” which ironically is what ended up happening. The large majority of the satanic and fascist bands that you seem to admire are definitely using this “evil” image to sell records. These are the people you should be directing your snide comments towards.

It really angers me when a talented band gets insulted for merely choosing to do something different, breaking away from a mostly played out and stagnant genre. Bands like this will often times get judged as interlopers into someone else’s “scene.” Would you like WITTR more if they all bought corpse paint and spiked gauntlets at the mall and sang about Satan?