WOLVERINE
Reviewed by Mike SOS
Swedish mope metallers Wolverine return with "Still," a weighty nine-track affair whose early Queensryche, Dream Theater, and Katatonia influence reign heavily throughout this affair.
Somewhat straying away from the metal side of the fence to explore mainstream prog rock territory on tracks like the lucid "Nothing More," the quintet's teeth still manage to bear on tracks like the sprawling "And She Slowly Dies," evoking comparisons to Opeth.
If you like your theatrical metal with darker hues, songs like "Sleepytown" is somberly engaging a la Dredg, while "Bleeding" churns out the goth-meets-prog metal tendencies the band is best known for. Despite these moments giving way for a more toned down metal side, this band still serves from a crock pot of melancholy, helping Wolverine remain a solid somber unit.
For more information, check out http://www.wolverine-overdose.com.
"Cold
Light of Monday" (Earache; 2004)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
It takes about midway through "Sarah," the second track on Wolverine's "Cold Light of Monday," for the entire band to kick in, and even then you can't deny an uneasy feeling creeping over you.
While "Cold Light of Monday" won't overpower you with muscular music, the ambience of tracks like "The Final Redemption" and "Red Canvas" - akin to works of Opeth with a more familiar feel - should hold you long enough to feel the weight of the world fall squarely on your shoulders.
Even though this album is about as much fun to listen to as going to a wake (at times, complete with organ), it does what it sets out to do by putting a little bit of despair back in your heart.
For more information, check out http://www.wolverine-overdose.com.
"The
Window Purpose" (Earache; 2001)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
The Swedish prog-metallers 2001 release has been re-issued and should garnish the sextet more of the praise which they greatly deserve. This re-mastered 11-track tour de force, which also features an additional bonus track, is a complex metal fan's delight.
Meshing the styles of Fates Warning, Opeth, Dream Theater, and Rush, Wolverine provides a dizzying array of musicianship coupled with elaborately written songs to satisfy the forward thinking metal contingent.
The songs are a tad long-winded for some, but -- if you can keep your ADD under control for about an hour -- your ears will be in for quite the treat.
For more information, check out http://www.wolverine-overdose.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 04 Dec 2023 22:19:31 -0500.
