| CD REVIEW Wolfcrusher |
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Band : Wolfcrusher This Manchester (UK) based Death and Black Metal infused Southern Metal band is the brainchild of guitarist/ second vocalist Dan Mucs, a prolific Hungarian born musician also active with Modern Technical Death Metal act Not Above Evil (where he plays the drums), female-fronted Hard/heavy Rock trio (recently slimmed down) Dirty Habit, and Stoner/ Southern Metal act Ten Foot Wizard (all of which already have recordings out). Joining forces with drummer Dan Mikietyn (formerly of Heavy/ Thrash Metal band Blood Evil) the two hit the rehearsal room to start working on some material. They soon enlisted good friend and talented guitarist Arun Kamath (of Progressive Metal act Soma Dark and formerly of Southern Rock/ Metal act Bisonhammer) and then recruited bassist Chris Mitchell-Taylor (of Thrash/ Power Metal band Visitor, and formerly of Blood Evil) to complete the rhythm section. Gary Harkin (of Bisonhammer and Ten Foot Wizard repute) then came into the fold to provide the band with his versatile vocal stylings, which swing from guttural growls to searing screams, over the cleaner vocals which compliment the melodic side of the band and ensure the diverse sound of this band, which (so says the info sheet) takes its influences “...from Death Metal, Southern Rock, and everything in between, the only premise being : make it groovy, make it catchy, and make it heavy!”. The band did its debut show in December 2010, and instantly made a buzz as word got around about their infectious music and explosive live show. As you will be able to hear for yourself by checking out the 3 songs posted at (www.) myspace.com/wolfcrusher, the basis of the band's music is a rock-heavy (bricks are too light here, if you get the pun) Southern Metal with Rock sensitivities and Death Metal intensities, and with enough melody and catchiness to make the unaware listener notice immediately. The aforementioned Black elements evidently come from the screamed vocals, whereas the occasional growls strengthen the Death metal ties, and the frequent cleaner vocals (the only vocal styling present in each song!) ensure the overall Southern feel. What you don't get to hear, is the piano-based album shortie (“only” 3:13 in length, against an average over 5 minutes for the other 6 tracks) “All Shall Pass”, which doesn't even an heavy guitar in it, nor a harsher type of vocals. Nice ballad, that...and a perfect chill-out moment on an otherwise completely flabbergasting and surprisingly catchy/ heavy album! If I told you I wanna hear more of this band as soon as possible, would you be surprised to find A Virgin Tapestry in the top of my “Best Albums Of 2011” lists? If I were a six-armed alien creature, this band would get all six of my thumbs up! 99/100 Tony. |