Wolves At The Gate explores another emotional side and sound of the holiday season with their new EP release, Lowborn.
Wolves At The Gate are no stranger to writing some of the most engaging material in the genre right now. When they debuted with their first demo in 2010 and made a head-turning impression with the 2019 release, Eclipse, then 2022's Eulogies, it became clear that the band had an impressive and compelling sound to bring to the table. A sound that is melodically aggressive but also lyrically plays at your heartstrings, Wolves At The Gate is a band that has consistently evolved, never shying away from building what makes their sound truly their own.
"The EP concludes with a gorgeous metallic finale, "The King." With a tour de force of guitar lines, passionate percussive cadence, and some of the best vocal work on Lowborn, the final track brings together what makes Wolves At The Gate a special gem of a band in the scene today.
Now Wolves At The Gate takes another different approach creatively with their new Christmas EP, Lowborn. Breaking away from their traditional writing perspective and embracing another emotional side and sound of the holiday season, the band releases a mint, immersive, five-song EP that taps into exciting territory for the band this season.
From the beginning, the introductory track "Lowborn" feels every bit like a massive holiday experience drenched in its metalcore orchestral extravagance and choir singer presence. With each release, Wolves At The Gate makes it a point to show that they are not interested in making new waves in the genre; they are only interested in refining the specifics. For a beginning first impression on this EP, this leaves the listener wanting more.
"Dark Cold Night," a melodically challenging experience, continues the exploration of this new emotional territory. Wolves At The Gate retains their signature fierce instrumental energies while narratively playing around with the world building lyrically of promise and redemption.
More moody and denuded moments appear with a traditional favorite, "O Holy Night." Beautifully emotional with a stripped-back quality yet still having an arena-ready presence, Wolves At The Gate continues to hold the holiday energy of the EP successfully without losing their edge.
"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" has to be the diamond in the rough on this EP as this is the most alien energy on this experience, but not in a terrible way. Separating itself by having a completely different instrument energy from the rest of the songs up to this point, it shows the band is capable of mastering more and are not just a one-trick pony act.
The EP concludes with a gorgeous metallic finale, "The King." With a tour de force of guitar lines, passionate percussive cadence, and some of the best vocal work on Lowborn, the final track brings together what makes Wolves At The Gate a special gem of a band in the scene today.
Lowborn brings together a combination of original Christmas favorites while exploring a whole other avenue of impassioned territory with their own Christmas songs. Showing all the best sides of their instrumental and vocal dissonance, it goes without saying Lowborn will be a seasonal favorite this year.