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"The alchemy of this "Shadowland" between power and heavy metal is excellent and Wolf revives here compositions with intelligent and inspired writing."
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4/5
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After the disappointment of "Feeding The Machine" in 2020, what can we expect from the ninth album of the Swedes of Wolf in 2022? Not much a priori, unless Niklas Stalvind and his three companions have realized the poor quality of their latest production.
Strongly inspired by NWOBHM and bands like Judas Priest, Anvil or Accept whose heritage they worthily perpetuate, Wolf offers us a heavy metal album tinged with power mainly articulated around efficient riffs and particularly well worked melodies, carried by the warm and high voice of Niklas Stavling who reminds us in turn of Rob Halford or Andy Kuntz (Vanden Plas) when the tempo slows down and the vocals become more expressive.
'Dust' opens the ball with a beautiful energy carried by the solid rhythmic section composed of Johan Koleberg (ex-Therion) on drums and Pontus Egberg (ex-King Diamond) on bass. This binomial contributes greatly to the good performance of most of the tracks of the album. A word also on the very successful soli signed by Simon Johansson, of which some are really excellent like the one of the energetic 'Exit Sign' or on the very heavy mid-tempo 'Trial By Fire'.
The album shows a nice homogeneity and a balance that makes it pleasant to listen to over time. Some tracks stand out for their quality of writing and their immediate melodies. It is the case of the heart of the album which contains three hits. 'Seek the Silence' with its mid-tempo and Q5-like chorus, followed by the track that gives its name to the album on which Niklas turns into a clone of Udo Dirkschneider with a vocal inhabited by a particular rage and emotion. The third one is 'The III-faded Mr Mordrake' which seems to come straight out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show with its bouncy riff that Michael Schenker or Dave Mustaine would not have disowned.
"I never fail, either I win or I learn". This is a maxim that the Swedes of Wolf must whisper to themselves every day at breakfast. They put it perfectly into practice since they knew how to bounce back with this very successful "Shadowland". The alchemy between power and heavy metal is excellent and the band is back with compositions with an intelligent and inspired writing. Here is a melodic album, energetic and as well written as produced, which should find its audience among the heavy metal fans. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Dust - 4:42 02. Visions for the Blind - 5:37 03. The Time Machine - 6:11 04. Evil Lives - 3:33 05. Seek the Silence - 4:59 06. Shadowland ((04:06 07. The Ill-fated Mr. Mordrake - 5:36 08. Rasputin - 4:47 09. Exit Sign - 4:21 10. Into the Black Hole - 4:38 11. Trail by Fire (Bonus track) - 6:08
LINEUP:
Johan Koleberg: Batterie Niklas Olsson Stalvind: Chant / Guitares Pontus Egberg: Basse Simon Johansson: Guitares
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