Wolves in the Throne Room

Two Hunters is a dark, monumental exploration of drone, heaviness, and ritualistic sound. Released on Southern Lord Records, it showcases SUNN O)))’s mastery of tone, texture, and atmosphere, cementing their reputation as one of the most uncompromising and hypnotic forces in experimental metal.

The album is built around massive, monolithic guitar drones that seem to reshape the very space around them. From the opening track, Priestess, the listener is enveloped in a low-end roar that is both terrifying and mesmerizing. The guitars, amplified and sustained to their extreme, create waves of sound that ripple across the listener’s body, while subtle harmonics and feedback introduce moments of fragile beauty amid the weight.

It Took the Night to Believe and F.W.T.B.T. continue this exploration, layering distorted guitar with minimalist percussion and occasional whispered vocals. Each track unfolds slowly, demanding patience and immersion. There is no conventional rhythm or melody; instead, the music relies on texture, tension, and dynamic contrast. Even in its stillness, the sound feels alive, shifting imperceptibly as if breathing.

The production, by Steve Albini, captures the sheer physicality of SUNN O)))’s sound. Every guitar string, every resonance, and every reverb tail is rendered with clarity and weight, creating a listening experience that feels both intimate and immense. The album’s pacing reinforces its ritualistic nature, guiding the listener through waves of intensity and calm, awe and dread.

Lyrically sparse, Two Hunters relies on sonic storytelling. The album evokes ceremonies in remote forests, vast frozen landscapes, and meditative states of darkness. The tension between destruction and beauty, chaos and control, defines its emotional core. Unlike conventional metal, the power comes not from riffs or solos, but from the immersive, almost spiritual force of sustained sound.

Two Hunters is not for casual listening; it demands full attention and a willingness to surrender to its slow-moving, crushing currents. But for those who engage with it, the rewards are profound: a transformative, almost transcendental journey through tone and space.