Blood of the Wolf

Blood of the Wolf

I: The Law of Retaliation

Self-Release

Release: 28 August 2015

This past week this extreme metal album caught my attention. It’s difficult not to notice the strength in the delivery and the quality in the songwriting. It does not take repeated listens to make an impact at those two aforementioned levels—execution and skill.

They have in mind high standards in their extreme metal craft. Tight execution, sharp guitar, fast melodies, frenzied drumming, and deep, gruff vocals. To my way of thinking, there are certain albums with which this work shares a heritage: Morbid Angel’s “Blessed Are the Sick,” Behemoth’s “Demigod,” Dissection’s “Storm of the Light’s Bane” and Marduk’s “Panzer Division Marduk.” Of course, if you ask them they might give a different answer (maybe Angelcorpse?! Vader?), but, to me, the elements of Blood of the Wolf can be explained from those classic albums. The vocals are closer to Behemoth, while the guitar work sounds meticulous, like classic-period Morbid Angel/Dissection, as is the blasting, meaning that it is compact, tight blasting. The above details are the not the most important thing, actually. This is: the sound of experience, knowledge and the drive to create extreme metal that will rival and perhaps one day surpass the old masters. The band, while fast at a frenetic pace, writes very ear-friendly material. The band might not take kindly to being called “catchy” and “melodic” because in extreme metal those words are dirty, but a fact is a fact. It is only when you hear Blood of the Wolf that you get reminded just memorable and serious extreme metal can be when done right. It will take Blood of the Wolf to remind you.

Bottom line, I have been very, very impressed with this band, which formed in 2012. This is their debut, but they are made up of members of Rellik, Kommandant and Terminate, and death and black metal bands from the Chicagoland area. The band is not trying to hide their love of the classic bands. For instance, they have a song called “With Iron Weapons and Will,” which any Marduk loyalist can figure out where the title of the song comes from, obviously. Then, just to confirm it, the band covers Marduk’s “With Satan and Victorious Weapons.”

This debut is a very strong statement from the band. Hopefully supporters of extreme metal will notice the difference that is Blood of the Wolf. There is much to support here. As is often the case with extreme metal, the drum sound is too computerized for my tastes. To give a Morbid Angel reference, the drum sound is too much like “Blessed Are the Sick” and I would be curious to hear a more “Covenant” drum sound. Currently, it sounds a bit flat and weak. It would be good to hear the cymbal work, as well as the full range of the drums; that is, the other pieces of the drum set that are being played. We don’t get to hear the drumming in all its glory, basically. In spite of that personal complaint, this album is going to get repeated listens around here for sure. This is a keeper, and a band to watch out for.

www.bloodofthewolf.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/bloodofthewolfmusic