Across her storied career Chelsea Wolfe has been many things, but she’s never been stagnant. Aspects of poetry, doom-folk and industrial have all found a home in her wide-ranging sonic palette. On her previous album ‘She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She’, Wolfe dwelled mostly in electronic pastures, but with ‘The Dark’ returns to the mountains with more simple arrangements bound by guitar, bass and drums.
The Americana-tinged opener Cold is a slow burn, the folk influence immediately more apparent. Wolfe’s voice is, as ever, brilliant. Her gorgeous melodies, with a darker timbre, sound effortless. Seethe ups the ante as it ventures closest to her heavier work without abandoning the gothic atmosphere that cloaks her ninth LP.
Elsewhere, Swallower channels more doom and some post-rock flourishes, Wolfe’s dreamy vocal floating over distorted chords, a hint of The Cure to its pitch-black splendour, while Halo layers harmonies together over a melodious, minimalist bassline.
Later, drone influences carry Turn the Key and Death Is Not the End, the record getting progressively heavier while Wolfe’s voice acts as a beacon in the darkness.
It feels deliberate, as though she is drawing attention to the recesses she has navigated over the years and finds herself on the other side of. ‘The Dark’ acts as a reintroduction of sorts to Chelsea Wolfe, now free of old bad habits or previous toxic relationships.
As a piece it is brooding, certainly, but comfortable in itself, less mercurial than she has been before. But it’s by no means an album playing it safe or retreading ground. ‘The Dark’ reaches a crescendo in its later tracks, building from folk and Americana to the weight of drones and industrial textures without losing sight of its starting point. Wolfe can still surprise and delight.
Chelsea Wolfe Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed September 16 2026 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Curran Theatre (USA)
Fri September 18 2026 - SEATTLE Washington - Moore Theatre (USA)
Sat September 19 2026 - SALEM Oregon - Historic Elsinore Theatre (USA)
Sun September 20 2026 - PORTLAND Oregon - Roseland Theater (USA)
Tue September 22 2026 - SALT LAKE CITY Utah - Union (USA)
Thu September 24 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Paramount Theatre (USA)
Fri September 25 2026 - LAWRENCE Kansas - Liberty Hall (USA)
Sat September 26 2026 - SAINT PAUL Minnesota - Fitzgerald Theater at First Avenue - Complex (USA)
Mon September 28 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - Riviera Theatre Chicago (USA)
Tue September 29 2026 - COLUMBUS Ohio - Bluestone (USA)
Wed September 30 2026 - DETROIT Michigan - Masonic Jack White Theatre (formerly Cathedral Theatre) at Detroit Masonic Temple - Complex (USA)
Mon October 05 2026 - BOSTON Massachusetts - Boch Center Shubert Theatre (USA)
Tue October 06 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Town Hall New York (USA)
Thu October 08 2026 - MUNHALL Pennsylvania - Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall (USA)
Fri October 09 2026 - GLENSIDE Pennsylvania - Keswick Theatre (USA)
Sat October 10 2026 - WASHINGTON District of Columbia - Sixth and I (USA)
Mon October 12 2026 - ASHEVILLE North Carolina - Orange Peel (USA)
Tue October 13 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - Buckhead Theatre (USA)
Wed October 14 2026 - NASHVILLE Tennessee - Marathon Music Works (USA)
Fri October 16 2026 - DALLAS Texas - Texas Theatre (USA)
Sat October 17 2026 - AUSTIN Texas - Emos Austin (USA)
Tue October 20 2026 - TUCSON Arizona - Rialto Theatre (USA)
Wed October 21 2026 - EL CAJON California - Magnolia (USA)
Fri October 23 2026 - LOS ANGELES California - Orpheum Theatre (USA)
Sat November 21 2026 - UTRECHT TivoliVredenburg (Netherlands)
Mon November 23 2026 - BERLIN Admiralspalast (Germany)
Tue November 24 2026 - HAMBURG Grobe Freiheit 36 (Germany)
Wed November 25 2026 - COPENHAGEN Vega (Denmark)
Fri November 27 2026 - OSLO Betong (Norway)
Sat November 28 2026 - STOCKHOLM Vasateatern (Sweden)
Mon November 30 2026 - TALLINN Helitehas (Estonia)
Wed December 02 2026 - VILNIUS Loftas (Lithuania)
Thu December 03 2026 - WARSAW Progresja (Poland)
Sat December 05 2026 - PRAGUE Archa (Czech Republic)
Sun December 06 2026 - VIENNA Budocenter (Austria)
Mon December 07 2026 - BUDAPEST Akvarium Klub (Hungary)
Wed December 09 2026 - MANNHEIM Capitol (Germany)
Fri December 11 2026 - FRIBOURG FRI Son (Switzerland)
Sat December 12 2026 - MILAN Live Club (Italy)
Sun December 13 2026 - MUNICH Isarphilharmonie (Germany)
Tue December 15 2026 - ANTWERP Trix (Belgium)
Wed December 16 2026 - PARIS Casino de Paris (France)
Thu December 17 2026 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Sat December 19 2026 - ATHENS Floyd (Greece)
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