The hardest part about occupying a particular niche space in metal is keeping it fresh and interesting. For the past ten years, Wayfarer has successfully managed to mix oil and water by blending American/Folk with Black Metal. This combination sounds absolutely atrocious on paper but, in reality, sounds brilliant. American Gothic, the latest release from the Denver, Colorado act, might be the strongest yet in their discography.
If you’re not sure if this is for you, just listen to the opening track, “The Thousand Tombs Of Western Promise,” – and if you’re not immediately captivated by the twangy guitars, then wait patiently for the band to start stacking black metal elements, until the song culminates in blast beats and blackened death vocals, punctuated by Western-inspired guitar leads popping in and out of the mix. Innovation in black metal is hard to get right, but Wayfarer have now perfected their songwriting approach to merging two wildly different genres. It’s important to note the band’s sincerity. This isn’t hokey or contrived, and while the old West so alive in their music presents itself differently in modern times, this isn’t the cowboy equivalent of modern pirate metal acts, nor does it want to be.
For a moment, suspend the ridiculousness of a 9-minute black metal song called “The Cattle Thief” and enjoy it for what it is – a traditional triplet-led black metal song, with the gain on the guitars turned down a bit and some twang in the guitars, and a proper solo. This track, in particular, is a highlight on the black metal side of the album, along with “Black Plumes Over God’s Country.” But where this record shines the most is when they decide to lean heavily into the Americana elements.
The perfect culmination of both sounds is, without a doubt, “To Enter My House Justified,” with a riff that would sound equally as good on a folk instrument as it does on distorted guitar here. The whole band truly shines here, with a special nod to Isaac Faulk for his engaging drum fills and shimmering keyboards. Shane’s vocals are in top form, and Joe Strong-Truscelli’s slide guitar perfectly complements the main riff. Bassist and vocalist Jamie Hansen really shines here – unlike most metal arrangements where the bass follows the guitar, he becomes the glue that links the interesting elements together.
The dark Americana that is “A High Plains Eulogy” is a hauntingly beautiful track. Omitting most of the metal elements entirely, this song is about creating a mood and calling strong imagery. The vocals are clean and ambient throughout, the drums are dialed back, and the feeling of bleak Western melancholy permeates throughout. This was an odd choice to be a single from the album, but also a bold and ambitious move that might have alienated some black metal fans looking for something new but reeling in new ears looking for something they haven’t heard before.
Perhaps an odd comparison, but American Gothic is to Americana what the show Firefly is to Western movies. Something old mixed with something new and unusual, easy to overlook due to its themes, but nearly perfect to anyone with an open mind willing to give it the chance it deserves. Perhaps topping their last record, 2020’s A Romance with Violence, Wayfarer has delivered an album nobody knew they needed. Consider this essential listening in 2023.
Wayfarer, American Gothic, was released on October 27th, 2023 via Profound Lore. Grab your copy here.
