Vim Fuego of Bad News once said, “I don’t think you can be very funny about metal.” It’s a sentiment Wolves In The Throne Room would wholeheartedly agree with.

Formed on a farm in Olympia, Washington by brothers Nathan (guitar/vocals) and Aaron Weaver (drums), Wolves In The Throne Room have been wiping smiles off faces since 2003 with their own take on bleak Norwegian-style black metal.

There’ll be no smirking when WITTR hit Australia for the first time next month, supported by French doom outfit Monarch featuring ex-Grey Daturas member and tour promoter Robert MacManus on drums (tour dates below).

UB.com’s Danger Coolidge recently interviewed drummer, farmer and Burzum fan, Aaron Weaver…

How are things down on the old Wolves in the Throne Room farm? Does your music spook the animals? What is biodynamic agriculture?
We have a new house down the way from Calliope Farm that is the new headquarters for our musical endeavours. Our new compound is at the base of 1000 acres of protected forest, so the sounds don’t bother anyone. Animals seem to enjoy our music anyway. Biodynamic farming was created by Rudolf Steiner, the German mystic and philosopher. Calliope is not a biodynamic farm, though I’m quite interested in the idea.

When Wolves in the Throne Room returned home after your last long series of journeys you concluded that the options before you were to never tour again or to seize complete control over the way you tour. Sounds like you got fucked over somewhere along the line?
Not at all. We just have very high standards about the sort of places where we perform. Shitty corporate venues like the knitting factory in LA are antithetical to the energies that we work with. I’d rather not perform than have to look at an illuminated beer sign while I play the drums. We’re working toward the day when we can be totally self-contained: Able to play outdoors, in abandoned buildings, decrepit warehouses.

What did you do during this hiatus, besides biodynamic agriculture?
My wife runs the farm with the help of some friends, I managed to help out a little, though most of my time was spent building a new barn, helping friends out with building projects and renovating our practice space and recording studio. A lot of hiking as well.

Who’s the greatest black metal band of all-time?
Burzum. The spirit of this music is ancient, uncompromising and true. Ironic, since the music was created by a spun-out trustafarian.

What’s your favourite TV show?
I, nor anyone I know, watches TV.

That’s weird, I, and everyone I know, loves Breaking Bad. Do you read much? Can you recommend anything? We’d like to recommend you check out Bacon Busters, Australia’s finest pig shooting publication.
I read a lot. I recently read a book about 2012.

Sounds like an Orwell rip-off . Who’s more liable to come see WITTR – complete maniacs in corpse-paint or noise dorks in horn-rimmed glasses?
There seems to be a balance between these two groups. Though I think you will find that many corpse-painted fellows are harmless nerds.

Do people like to stand back and observe or do you get people going crazy?
People tend to feel the music and focus inward. People go crazy in a different way. I’m annoyed by moshing, happily most people realise that moshing isn’t the appropriate way to respond to our music.

Obviously Australia is famous for Sadistik Exekution, Nazxul and The Crocodile Hunter but have you heard anything else about the place?
AC/DC. I’ve heard that Australia is the oldest landmass on the planet, hence the lack of tall mountains. I read a book recently about Aboriginal culture which was very interesting and sad.

Have you seized complete control over this Aussie tour? How do you know you won’t get fucked-over Down Under?
The fellow putting together this tour is first rate, so I have no concerns. When we play outside of our homeland, we have to cede some control and place a great deal of trust in the people we work with. We do our best to create the atmosphere that we are able to manifest at home.

Thanks for your time mate. Any final thoughts?
Thanks for the interview. I look forward to our trip to Australia.

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DATES [w/ Monarch]:
Thursday 18th February: Fowlers Live, Adelaide
Friday 19th February: Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
Saturday 20th February: Gaelic Theatre, Sydney
Sunday 21st February: Arthouse Hotel, Melbourne
Tuesday 23rd February: The Basement, Canberra
Wednesday 24th February: Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
Thursday 25th February: HiFi Bar, Brisbane
Friday 26th February: Bald Face Stag, Sydney
Saturday 27th February: HiFi Bar, Melbourne
Sunday 28th February: National Hotel, Geelong

Black Cascade is out now through Southern Lord/Stomp.

Wolves in the Throne Room MySpace: www.myspace.com/wolvesinthethroneroom