Welcome to the LOUDEST DOT COM ON THE PLANET!
KNAC.COM News Reviews and More Watch The Latest Videos Buy KNAC T-shirts and More


1349 Return With New Album The Wolf And The King

By Larry Petro, News Monkey
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 @ 11:25 AM


Out October 4th Via Season of Mist; Video For New Single "Shadow Point" Drops

- advertisement -
Photo by Henrik Sander

True Norwegian black metal horde 1349 will be releasing their eighth full-length, The Wolf and the King, on October 4, 2024 via Season of Mist! In celebration, the band is now unleashing the furious new single, "Shadow Point", along with a haunting performance video. The clip was directed by Claudio Marino and produced by Artax Film; it can be found on KNAC.COM HERE.

The forthcoming offering was mastered by Jarrett Prichard and produced and mixed by Prichard & 1349 frontman Ravn at NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P.

Ravn comments, ""Shadow Point" is an ode to The Demon Star, which is a representation of violence and bloodshed. This is the perfect omen to showcase what you can expect from The Wolf and The King."

The cover artwork for The Wolf and The King was created by Jordan Barlow and can be found below along with the tracklisting.

The Wolf and the King Tracklisting:

  • "The God Devourer"
  • "Ash of Ages"
  • "Shadow Point"
  • "Inferior Pathways"
  • "Inner Portal"
  • "The Vessel and The Storm"
  • "Obscura"
  • "Fatalist"
1349 is not like other bands. It's not a group of friends who decided to make music together. 1349 is a band formed with a unified vision and specific purpose: To maintain the legacy of black metal.

"I didn't like the direction that black metal took in the mid part of the '90s," 1349 vocalist and mastermind Ravn recalls. "It started losing everything that I liked about black metal-the grimness, the eeriness, the primal emotions that captivated me and brought me into that sphere. You had all these synthesizer-based bands dressing up in pirate shirts and looking like goths. It ruined something that I truly hold close to my heart."

In 1997, Ravn formed 1349 and recruited bassist Seidemann and, now former, guitarist Tjalve to help him pursue the vision of recapturing the original spirit of black metal. The longstanding lineup of Ravn, Seidemann, guitarist Archaon, and drummer Frost (also of SATYRICON) has been in place since 2001. "I found people that felt the same way as me," Ravn says of his bandmates. "We wanted to bring back the trademark of Norwegian black metal, as it was presented in the early 90s. Every time we release an album, that's the inspiration and the backdrop."

The Wolf and the King is the latest sortie in that crusade. 1349's eighth album sees the Oslo-based band harnessing the primordial energy of black metal's decade-defining second wave and channeling it through ancient mysteries and the relentless global chaos of the 2020s.

The album title comes from a classic alchemical allegory: A wolf devours a king. Then the wolf is devoured by flames, and a new king rises from the ashes. "When I first heard about alchemy when I was young, it was people turning metal into gold," Ravn says. "Further down the road, through various literatures and magical practices, I realized that what you're turning into gold is metaphorical. It's about personal development, basically. You want to be the best you can be, and that's what we try to do as well. We try to top ourselves, to kill our egos in order to grow as persons. If you don't do that, you will die. You will not rise from the ashes."

Lead single "Ash of Ages" combines thrash with extreme metal flourishes and a proper doomsday theme. "The song is based on a story I read about a layer of ash that covered the Earth 12,000 years ago," Ravn explains. "This layer of ash comes from a meteorite that struck the Earth during the Ice Age. It melted a lot of the ice, which is where the Great Flood came from. The Great Flood is in the Bible, but it was written about in every ancient culture. The theory is that it washed away a lot of other ancient cultures that held a higher intelligence level than those that were found after the flood. So, it possibly set human civilization back many thousands of years."

Released as a one-sided maxi-12" with a flipside etching by Jordan Barlow-who did all the artwork for The Wolf and the King (as well as the band's 2019 album, The Infernal Pathway)-"Ash of Ages" is also a warning to check your ego. "To think that you're important, that you're anything but an ant down there, is futile," Ravn points out. "In the end, everything will be washed away, and nothing will be left."

"Shadow Point" comes complete with a video and revisits the sonic domain of The Infernal Pathway with a classic headbanger groove. "This one references the Star of Algol, or 'the Demon Star'," Ravn offers. "It's actually two stars that revolve around each other, and the small one is devouring the big one. Human beings have seen this star from early ages, and it has had many names over the years. It's a known part of the magical world, so I wanted to include it in a song."

Shot through with menace and a snaky groove, album opener "The God Devourer" will also have a video. "The lyrics are based on the alchemical principle of devouring all that you feel is in your way of becoming a better human," Ravn says. "It sets the ominous tone for the whole album."

Recorded at Amper Tone in Oslo, Norway, and New Constellation R.M.P. in Orlando, Florida, The Wolf and the King was produced and mixed by Ravn and Jarrett Pritchard (Eulogy, Pulchra Morte), the band's long-standing sonic wizard who also worked on their previous two albums. The lyrics were written by the band's longtime wordsmith, Svartalv, who has been working with 1349 for twenty years.

Jordan Barlow's elaborate artwork for The Wolf and the King reflects the album's chronological position in 1349's discography. "This is our eighth album, and the artwork and lyrics are filled with references to this number of infinity," Ravn explains. "You can basically go on a quest finding references to the number in the artwork."

All told, The Wolf and the King is the exalted output of the joint force that is 1349. "We all work together to make the best black metal possible every time we release an album," Ravn says. "This is our common goal. We're a band on a mission."


Back to Top

 

 

 Recent News
Original BLACK SABBATH Members To Reunite For Final Show, 'Back To The Beginning' At Villa Park
ANGEL's Self-Titled Debut Album Gets 50th Anniversary Reissue
HAREM SCAREM Are "Reliving History" With New Single
Austria's All-Woman VULVARINE Announce New Album Fast Lane
HELLOWEEN Release "Future World" Live Video
BLOODYWOOD Return With New Album Nu Delhi
NERV Drop New Single "Lost!"
HOUSE OF LORDS Launches New Video For "Cry Of The Wicked"
AC/DC Announce 'Power Up' Europe Tour Dates
RED FANG Kick Off 20th Anniversary With Deep Cuts Album
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA Shares "Paloma" Video
HEATHEN Are Ready To Bleed The World With New Live Album
LADY BEAST Premiere New Track "The Oracles Omen"
W.E.T. Set To Release New Album Apex
SUN DONT SHINE Drops New Single "The Promise Song"
MESSA Set To Release New Album The Spin
HANABIE. Release Brutal New Track "Tasty Survivor"
EPICA Unveil New Album Aspiral
POISON THE WELL Release First New Music In 15 Years, "Trembling Level"
JINJER Unleash Title Track Video For "Duél"
SANHEDRIN Return With New Album Heat Lightning
KATERINA NICOLE Launches "What I Know Now" Video
W.A.S.P. Add More Dates To The European 2025 'Album ONE Alive World Tour'
ABORTED Release New Visualizer For "The Pain, Will Be Exquisite"
RUSH To Release First-Ever Career Spanning Anthology, Rush 50
DECAPITATED Drops Double Video Release Ahead Of North American 'Nihility Tour'
ASKA Signs With BraveWords Records For Digital Release Of Knight Strike Album
UNCURED Stream New Single "Bleed Me Dry"
Debut PROG METAL MANIA Festival Announces 2025 Band Lineup
OF MICE & MEN Announce 2025 Headline Dates
M3 Rock Festival Reveals Lineup For 2025 Edition, Featuring STEPHEN PEARCY/WARREN DEMARTINI Performing RATT
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Launch New Video For "I Believe"
DOROTHY Reveals New Album The Way
MARTY FRIEDMAN Shares New Single "A Prayer"
JACK STARR Readies Out of the Darkness Part II Solo Album
DESTRUCTION Unleash New Video "A.N.G.S.T."
H.E.A.T Set For New Album Welcome To The Future
AVERSED Return With New Video For "Lucid Decapitation"
Los Angeles District Attorney's Office Announces Decision In MARILYN MANSON Investigation
EXODUS Announce Two Special Bonded By Blood 40th Anniversary Shows
DREAM THEATER Releases "Midnight Messiah Tour Diary Video
BEWITCHER Announces U.S. March Tour Co-headlining With DEATHCHANT
LORRAINE LEWIS To Return In 2025 With New Lineup Of FEMME FATALE, New Music With LOU GRAMM
End Of Transmission: ORANGE GOBLIN Announce That 2025 Will Be Their Last
PERFECT PLAN Launch New Video For "Heart Of A Lion"
BENEDICTION Reveal New Album Cover, Release Date For Ravage Of Empires
OVERDRIVERS Release "Meet The Monsters" Video
CRADLE OF FILTH Unveil New Studio Album The Screaming Of The Valkyries
NINE INCH NAILS Announce 'Peel It Back Tour 2025'
SACRED STEEL Drop New Album Title Track Video For "Ritual Supremacy"
SATCHVAI Band Unveils Star-Studded Lineup
SHINEDOWN Announces 2025 'Dance, Kid, Dance Tour'
INKCARCERATION Music & Tattoo Festival Announces 2025 Band Lineup
BRAINSTORM Stream New Single "Beyond Enemy Lines"
PHIL X & THE DRILLS Go POW! Right In The Kisser With New Album
STEELCITY Share New Video For "No Angel"
MARILYN MANSON Announces 2025 Spring Tour Dates
ELUVEITIE Reveal New Studio Album Ánv
CRAZY LIXX Unveil New Video "Hunt For Danger"
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Announces Co-Headline Tour With TAKING BACK SUNDAY
NIVIANE Drops Powerful New Video "Tomorrow's A New Day"
Guitarist JOHN SYKES (WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, THIN LIZZY, TYGERS OF PAN TANG) Passes Away At The Age Of 65
LORDI Stream New Single "Retropolis"
PAPA ROACH Set For 'Rise Of The Roach' North American Tour
DARK CHAPEL Releases Second Video, "Hollow Smile"
IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT Return With New Album Goldstar
GRAVE DIGGER Streams New Album Title Track For "Bone Collector"
ROCK LANSING Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup
GOTTHARD Unleash New Video "Thunder & Lightning"
HELL'S HEROES Festival Reveals Daily Lineups For 2025
DON AIREY Readies New Solo Album Pushed To The Edge
DANCE GAVIN DANCE Announces 'Return Of The Robot' North American Tour
FREHLEY'S COMET, JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, EX-PUDDLE OF MUDD, EX-ANTHRAX Members Confirmed For Special NAMM Event
TEMPERANCE Delivers Symphonic Passion On New Live Album, From Hermitage To Europe
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA Streams Title Track From Upcoming Album
SALIVA Unveil New Deluxe Album Revelation: Retold
ROCK FEST Announces Lineup For 2025 Edition
AIRFORCE Present New Video For "Westworld"
ENTERPRISE EARTH Set To Drop Descent Into Madness EP
DIRKSCHNEIDER Launch Title Track Single From Balls To The Wall Reloaded Album
SPREAD EAGLE Celebrates 35 Years of Debut Album With Anniversary Tour + Exclusive Releases!
SABER Premieres New Single "Steel Breaker"
CHRISTIAN MISTRESS Ready Children Of The Earth Album
COAL CHAMBER Cancels The 'Fiend For The Fans' Tour
DIRTY HONEY Unveils Mayhem And Revelry Live Album
METAL HALL OF FAME Gala To Become Telethon To Help Victims Of Los Angeles Wildfires
WARBRINGER, ALLEGAEON Announce 2025 North American Co-Headline Tour
WHITECHAPEL Set To Release Hymns In Dissonance Album
BRIT FLOYD Announce 2025 World Tour Dates
ALIEN WEAPONRY Return With New Album, Te Ra
RAVEN Drop New Anniversary EP Title Track Single For "Can't Take Away The Fire"
KNIGHTFALL Drop Debut Album Destiny Calling
ARCHITECTS Unleash Cinematic Video For "Blackhole"
NOTHING MORE Announce Spring Headline Shows Amidst Tour With DISTURBED
ENVY OF NONE Unveil Sophomore Album Stygian Wavz
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE Share New Video For "Overdose"
RIVERS OF NIHIL Announces North American Headlining 'Aggressive Progressive Tour'
THE HELLACOPTERS Ask "Do You Feel Normal" With New Video
KAMELOT Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of The Black Halo With New Reissue Formats
JASMINE CAIN Returns With New Slap Shot Inspired Single, Video "Victory"
SHAMAN'S HARVEST, BLACKTOP MOJO Join For 'About Time' UK Tour
BLEEDING THROUGH Debut New Single "I Am Resistance"
DYNAZTY Release New Video For "Call Of The Night"
HIRAX Get Faster Than Death With New Album
BREAKING BENJAMIN Debut New Video For "Awaken"
THE BROWNING Announces 'Electronicore 2025 Tour'
LACUNA COIL Shares New Video For "Gravity"
PUNK IN THE PARK ARIZONA Announces Lineup For 2025
JETHRO TULL Ready 24th Studio Album Curious Ruminant
ENSIFERUM Launches New Video For "The Howl"
Swedish Supergroup GINEVRA Return With Sophomore Album Beyond Tomorrow
ROBIN MCAULEY Streams Title Track From New Album Soulbound
Riot Stitch Rockwear To Host First-Ever Metal Catwalk At NAMM 2025
OBSCURA Unleashes "Evenfall" Video
POP EVIL Announce New Album What Remains
MARKO HIETALA Launches "Rebel Of The North" Video
EDGE OF PARADISE Set For New Studio Album Prophecy
PARADISE LOST Announce North American Tour Dates
THE FERRYMEN Release New Video For "Mother Unholy"
CROWN MAGNETAR Reveal New EP Punishment
BONFIRE Share New Video For "Lost All Control"
WARBRINGER Return With New Album, Wrath And Ruin
BRAINSTORM Unveil Details For Forthcoming New Album, Plague Of Rats
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Add May Dates For 2025 Spring Headline Tour
THE VEER UNION Drop New Album Welcome To Dystopia
THUNDERMOTHER Release New Single For "Bright Eyes"
PALEFACE SWISS Share New Video For "River Of Sorrows"
Former BUTCHER BABIES Vocalist CARLA HARVEY Joins LORDS OF ACID
RORSCHACH TEST Release "Embracing The Shadow" Video
MEAN MISTREATER Drop New Album Title Track, "Do Or Die"
SAVAGE MASTER Set To Release Dark & Dangerous Album
DAVID ELLEFSON Releases DONNIE IRIS Cover Of "Ah! Leah!", Featuring ENUFF Z'NUFF, KIK TRACEE Vocalists
CLOSE ENEMIES, Featuring TOM HAMILTON Of AEROSMITH, Set To Release New Music, Announce January Dates
2025 HELLFEST Festival Daily Lineups Revealed



HOME | MAGAZINE | VIDS | STORE | HELP/POLICIES

©2025 KNAC.COM. All Rights Reserved.    Link to us    Advertise with us    Privacy policy
 Latest News