Wolf, although not the biggest name in the metal scene, have gained quite a good following over the years for their old school heavy-metal
sound. Many bands have attempted to bring back the glory of the old Merciful Fate, Judas
Priest, Saxon and Iron Maiden sound, but few have managed to pull it off in a perfect
manner as Wolf have time and time again. Devil Seed is the seventh full length
offering from the band and continues along the path and identity the band have
crafted for themselves over the past two decades.
Devil Seed is a complete package of classic heavy metal
killer music. The band describes their sound as “Real Metal For True Bastards”,
and after listening to Devil Seed, I find the analogy to be quite appropriate!
The album kicks off with the fantastic riffs, in “Overture
In C Shark”, before exploding into “Shark Attack.” From this point on, the
album is just a continuous bombardment of classic heavy metal music on to the
listener. Moreover, Niklas Stålvind’s amazing vocal delivery has the listener hypnotized
within seconds.
“Skeleton Woman” takes a slower and darker approach, the
perfect mix of acoustic guitar melodies and electric guitar riffs give the
track a very good (positive) vibe to it. That is until you turn your attention
to the lyrics, sending a shiver down the listener’s spine. The dark nature of the album, does not end
there “My Demon” will bring back all the nightmares you have had. The vocals
have a very ghastly vibe to them and the riffs will strangle you and leave you
gasping for breath.
“I Am Pain” takes a slow approach, reminding one of the classic
Iron Maiden sound. The gentle sing along chorus will make this track quite
popular at the future shows of the band I believe. Immediately the album kicks back
into a faster tempo, with “Back From The Grave”. The contrast style placing off
tracks is a risky endeavor (Remember Iced Earth’s - Something Wicked This Way
Comes?), but it totally pays off on this record, bringing in the necessary
variation required not to make the album feel monotonous at any point.
On of the standout tracks (and the best in my opinion) comes
towards the end in “River Everlost”. The track is a masterpiece, and could sit
shoulder to shoulder with any old school heavy metal track. With the vocals
packing the perfect punch and the incredible heavy guitar riffs taking the track to a totally new dimension. The beautiful guitar solos are reminiscent of the old Judas
Priest and Manowar.
The amazing quality production, ensures that each instrument
stands out separately, while maintaining the slightly old school 90’s mix
sound. The influences of bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Merciful
Fate and many others, are on display throughout the record. At the same time, the
band walks the thin line perfectly, keeping their own originality and not
making it just another copy of some old school heavy metal record.
Overall, Devil Seed is a 100% old school heavy metal record, with a lot of dark vibes in it.
The band once again just continues doing what they do best - make killer heavy music. The album for some reason,
kept reminding me of Judas Priest’s milestone album “Painkiller”, making me
believe “Devil Seed” could be that landmark for Wolf.
A nice journey into the past for the fans of the genre and
the band.
