So, on May 15th, I had the pleasure of catching Wolves in the Throne Room with Krallice, Zebulon Pike, and Empires at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

Unlike the Mastodon show a couple of weeks previous to this one, this show turned out to be a very very very late night. And unlike that show, I went with a friend of mine. We met up in the bar and enjoyed a couple beers (Surly's of course) in the bar/restaurant side before heading over to the other side for the show. We also traded CDs. I received Altar of Plagues new album "White Tomb". I gave him the new Isis album "Wavering Radiant". Both are very good albums. Worth checking out if you're so inclined.

We ended up missing Empires, but got there in time to catch the rest of the show starting with Krallice. I haven't been able to find a set list for this show but my friend said that they only played a couple songs off their self-titled album (which is amazing) and the rest was new material. I think they played about 5 songs. Turns out that there is a new album due out later this year. Not entirely sure how long they played but I thought it was a great set. I think I spent most of it watching the drummer play.

Zebulon Pike played next. They were more on the psychedelic and prog side of metal in comparison to the other bands. That's my take based on the few things I've heard of them. I spent part of their set wondering who was responsible for this line-up. I could see where ZP could fit in with the rest of the bands. But, on this particular night, they opted to play material that didn't really fit in, IMO. It seemed a big lull in the proceedings. It probably didn't help that by the time they were coming on, I was usually in bed.

By the time Wolves in the Throne Room came on, I'm guessing it was close to one a.m. I was doing my best to suppress my yawns. (Man, I am a geezer!) I do have a set list for Wolves, though...

1. Ahrimanic Trance


2. Vastness and Sorrow


3. Crystal Ammunition


4. Queen of the Borrowed Light

It was an amazing set. Only four songs, but they were amazing to hear live. Actually, after the third song, the band left the stage for a few minutes. They came back on and played the last number. Then, they left the stage again. By this time, I was so tired that part of me was hoping they were going to play more while another part of me wanted to go bed right then and there. It turned out they were done.

I got home by 2:30. I stopped to get gas and something to eat (convenience store monster burrito). I was starving. I didn't get to bed until 3am. Shelly let me sleep in and I did until 1pm! I was still cranky from lack of sleep for the remainder of the weekend.