Album
Type: Full Length
Date
Released: 24/02/2015
Label: Static Tension
The
Wolf Council’ Track Listing
- Plans For The Sky
- Send Help For The Rest
- Waves
- Victims of the Sea
- All That Was Yours
- The Day I Cleared The Debt
- Loading The Guns
- Just One Push
- Floor
- No Reason
The
Wolf Council Is:
Jeff
Paske – Drums
Steve
Williams – Guitar/Vocals
Steve
Post – Bass/Vocals
Review
The
Wolf Council list their genre on social media as simply ‘Kick Ass’.
Another, lesser outfit wouldn’t be able to live up to such
self-aggrandisement, but for the Minnesotan trio it fits the bill.
What we have here are 10 tracks of sludgy, stripped down metal that
have an undeniable and sustained air of ‘cool’ surrounding them.
Opener
‘Plans For The Sky’ sets the scene perfectly, a rolling,
70’s infused doomy riff, backed by Jeff Paske’s clattering drums.
The guitar has a satisfying bite to it, and Steve Williams vocals are
gruff and burly enough to compete with the sludgy weight. A series of
bass runs and instruments dropping in and out have them sounding like
a grittier, more bombastic Dozer.
‘Send
Help For The Rest’ is a touch more immediate, all triumphant,
colossal drums and deep, locked in grooves. Williams's vocals are
commanding, and the tempo is infectious. ‘Waves’ is
centred around a throaty, muscular bass riff and sounds absolutely
massive. Something one quickly notices is just how sharp the
production on the record is, everything is more or less perfectly
balanced, there’s no undue prominence given to guitars, drums or
vocals.
‘Victims’
is a bit more stately and doomy in terms of pace, with mirrored
guitar and basslines before the guitar solo coils slowly above the
rest of the instrumentation. ‘All That Was Yours’ starts
off a little bit Metallica, staccato palm muted stabs and
semi-whispered vocals, which progresses and morphs into a driving
riff and some well executed more melodic singing.
The
riff worshipping continues, with ‘The Day I Cleared The Debt’
and its sub-thrash tempo progressing into a dizzying wah infused
bass solo. Post definitely has his instrument make its mark on the
album, elevating it above simply playing chord structures or driving
riffs, with subtle flourishes making as much impact as overt soloing.
There’s
nothing outright wrong with the remaining album tracks, ‘Just
One Push’ and ‘No Reason’ are still enjoyable
exercises in riff worshipping, and just as valid as the previous.
There is a sense, though, that perhaps ten tracks is a little too
many, that although the Council’s brand of metal is infinitely
listenable, this album is better off tackled in smaller doses in
order for it to have its full effectiveness.
For
those who are immune to this ‘riff fatigue’, and for anyone lucky
enough to come across this record, you’ll find a badass,
riff-filled experience that is the perfect soundtrack to any
activity, from ripping down the highway to navigating your commute to
work. Class.
Words
by: Jay Hampshire
The Wolf Council S/T album is available to buy from Static Tension now.
For More Information
