Review: Celestial Wolves – V I I I V
Celestial Wolves’ “V I I I V” is the kind of album that submerges you, pulling you into a world where postrock’s sprawling grandeur collides with mathrock’s precision and progressive rock’s restless ambition. This Belgian quintet’s fifth release (and fourth full-length) is a record that feels both expansive and intimate. The nine songs unfurl like landscapes, each one layered with enough texture and emotional weight to make you forget where the music ends and your own thoughts begin. From the opening swell of “CME 1859,” it’s clear that Celestial Wolves aren’t interested in half-measures. The band’s signature blend of soaring guitars, hypnotic rhythms, and cinematic dynamics is on full display here, but there’s a newfound maturity to their approach, a sense that they’ve refined their craft even more. The production, handled by Jannes Van Rossom at dunk!studios, is immaculate: spacious enough to let the music breathe, but tight enough to ensure that the band’s intricate arrangements never lose their impact.
“V I I I V” strong point is its ability to balance raw emotional power with technical sophistication. Songs like “Forest Spirits” and “Autumn’s Dew” are masterclasses in mood, their melodies unfolding like slow-burning embers before erupting into walls of sound that feel both cathartic and inevitable. The two-part “Colliding Entity” suite is a particular highlight, its sprawling structure and shifting dynamics showcasing the band’s ability to weave together disparate elements nto a cohesive, immersive whole.
Yet, for all its strengths, “V I I I V” occasionally stumbles into the pitfalls of its own ambition, when some songs like the otherwise lovely “And I Lay My Soul To Rest”struggle to maintain the same level of momentum as their more dynamic counterparts. And while the band’s willingness to experiment is admirable, there are moments where the record’s sprawling runtime and layered arrangements threaten to overwhelm, leaving you wishing for a bit more restraint or a tighter edit.
Still, these are minor quibbles in the face of what is, ultimately, a deeply rewarding listen. “V I I I V” is an album that demands and rewards your full attention, revealing new layers and nuances with each spin. The closing moments of “Shadow Dwellers,” with its haunting melodies and sprawling, almost cinematic scope, leave you with the sense that Celestial Wolves have crafted something truly special here. This isn’t just postrock; it’s a journey, one that’s as emotionally resonant as it is technically impressive..
https://celestialwolves.bandcamp.com/album/v-i-i-i-v
