Ravenous [3/24]

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:00:00
Personnel: Niklas Stalvind (vocals, guitar); Roy Z (acoustic guitar); Anders "Modden" Modd (bass guitar); Mark Boals (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Roy Z. Recording information: Studio Seven, Orebro, Sweden (2008). Swedish heavy metal purists Wolf jettisoned fully half of their lineup (including longtime bassist Mikael Goding) prior to recording their fifth album, 2009's RAVENOUS, but fans need not have worried that this would affect the nature of the band's "classic" sound. That is, so long as founding vocalist, guitarist, and de facto leader, Niklas Stalvind, remained at the helm--which he does. Nevertheless, with any measure of change come changing perspectives, and the increased songwriting contributions of recently acquired co-lead guitarist Johannes Losback (in his second outing with Wolf), not to mention the hire of producer Roy Z, sparked a healthy six-string relay race that made RAVENOUS the band's most guitar-centric project yet. Redundant as such a claim may seem when applied to any heavy metal band, knowledgeable enthusiasts of the genre will readily recognize it as fact once the galloping riffs and dueling harmonies of opener "Speed On" inaugurate the album's "Battle of the Axes." This proceeds apace over irresistible head-banging highlights like the Pharaonic (i.e. Iron Maiden/POWERSLAVE) "Curse You Salem," the alternately doomy riffs and choppy staccatos of "Hiding in Shadows," and the sheer majesty of closer "Blood Angel." It's also these roaring riffs and fleet-fingered leads that ultimately spare more accessible numbers like "Hail Caesar," "Mr. Twisted" and "Hiding in Shadow" from enduring an `80s hard rock fate. The final balance places RAVENOUS near the top of Wolf's none too shabby discography, making it a can't lose proposition for both veteran fans and brand new arrivals.