Band: Wolfcrusher
Release: Virgin Tapestry
Release Date: 8th August 2011
Melodic, groove, death metal band Wolfcrusher only played their first show last December and are already releasing their debut album to the world on Casket Records.
Unfortunately from the first track of their latest release ‘Virgin Tapestry’ something just isn’t right. Musically the band are very good, the album is well produced and the songs are well put together but the vocals can unfortunately let them down.
Opening track ‘Reborn’ starts off great, the initial starting riff sounding a mix between early Korn with the lead of Marilyn Manson‘s ‘Angel With The Scabbed Wings’. This initial impact is then crushed with a spit gargling vocal just doesn’t do the track justice. Be it personal preference or whatever, I just don’t think it sounds good. It sounds forced and as screams go isn’t up to the usual standard you’d expect and sadly put a downer on a promising start.
The deep growling on the other hand has a great Cannibal Corpse feel and shows the vocalist obviously has talent in this area. The melodic vocal sections can be great but at times can sound slightly off key.
What’s is apparent though, is throughout the album there are moments where he really does hit the nail on the head. Mellow track ‘All Shall Pass’ really highlights the vocalists melodic style with those pitching problems far gone and ‘Insuperabilis’ shows that he really CAN hit those high screams when he commits.
I think the main issue with this release is consistency and I don’t think you should write Wolfcrusher off quite yet. It’s a matter of taking a look back over and working out what works at what points and what doesn’t.
Let me get this straight, I don’t think think their singer is terrible, far from it. I just think with some development he can be hitting it harder and next release can come back and rip people’s faces off! He clearly has talent but feel some of his styles need work.
Grab a copy of ‘The Zen Of Screaming’ (google it!), nail it and I’m pretty sure we will all be seeing Wolfcrusher on to bigger things.
Reviewer: Chris Hines
