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MOSS OF MOONLIGHT
Winterwheel EP

Cascadian Alliance (2013)
Rating: 7.5/10

Y’know what, I’ve always been sceptical of American black metal bands, possibly due to the fact that the original early to mid-90s wave of bands seemed so obsessed with the Nordic way of life, despite a majority of these acts never experiencing such a tundra. Even so, Moss Of Moonlight is one of the more unusual, and most certainly melodic of all the black metal bands I’ve heard over the years.

The greatest thing about the black metal genre is the amount of variety of bands within its icy framework. In fact, it has to be one of the most rewarding of all the metal genres, despite many critics being of the belief that it’s only about a lo-fi sound, screeching vocals and satanic content. Moss of Moonlight is far from that stereotype.

This outfit are an intriguing duo, comprising of main growler Cavan Wagner, who also plays guitar, bass and numerous other instruments, and fellow vocalist Jenn Grunigen, who also provides percussion. Although the snowy wastes of Washington may not quite have the same atmosphere as some of Scandinavia’s arctic lands, Moss Of Moonlight most certainly know how to create primal atmospherics.

Opening with the 12-minute ‘Gǣt’, Winterwheel is a four-track EP that has emerged a year after the band’s 2012 debut record, Seed. It must be said that those seeking a regressive and harsh black metal experience need to look elsewhere, because Moss Of Moonlight, despite the haunting double vocal attack of growl and howl, are very much of a more tranquil state – resulting in folky structures that wrap themselves around numerous unusual instruments such as mouth harp, pipes, and programming effects.

Despite harbouring only four tracks, Winterwheel stretches like a blanket of pristine snow for some 40 minutes, and acts more like a wintry soundtrack to a television show like Game Of Thrones if anything. Cavan’s vocals – particularly on their debut album – are of a more sinister quality, but when you hear a sweeping, melancholic track such as ‘Ēole’ you’ll be drawn in by the gothic dual vocal which soon leads as to Cavan’s more gurgled tones. Even so, it’s not anywhere near the black metal animosity some of you may have been expecting – it’s relatively subtle in its guitar and percussion, evoking images of blustery nights and orange, flickering woodland fires.

Lyrically, this is an incredibly atmospheric and earthy EP, in-depth within its Pagan offerings – it’s the sort of record that creeps round the soul like the shadows cast from a stirring tree. Moss Of Moonlight clearly know their stuff, shifting between languages too as the subtle movements of each track envelope the listener. Hard to pick a favourite track, but both ‘Catte’ and ‘Hræfne’ are equally stirring, the latter offering my favourite lyrics, being: “Logs of ice, snarling mouth of flame / With mist we craft / In mist we wreak our game / Lend us your tooth to carve into the gloaming / Tree-deep the spear thrust into our hungry roaming”.

Those of you who wish to soak yourself in the embers of winter fire, all the while roasting a boar on a spit, then no doubt the frosty climes of Moss Of Moonlight will appeal to you. With tales of Anglo-Saxon gods aplenty, and haunting melodies over oaken structures, Winterwheel is most certainly a breath of fresh air upon the neck of those who need to cease headbanging for a while to indulge themselves in mistier moments.

Neil Arnold

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