Powerwolf plays its new mass.
In 20 years, the pack made up of Attila Dorn (vocals), Matthew Greywolf (guitar, ex-Flowing Tears), Charles Greywolf (guitar/bass, ex-Flowing Tears, ex-Heavatar), Falk Maria Schlegel (keyboards, ex-The Experience) and Roel van Helden (drums, Zero Hour, ex-Subsignal…) has climbed the ranks, and now brings us Wake Up the Wicked, its twelfth studio album.
Bless ’em With the Blade opens the wolves’ universe up, from the lively riffs with majestic atmosphere, the unifying vocal parts to the inexhaustible energy of their catchy Power Metal. The track is surprisingly short, but it still offers a solo before the final, then the intensity drops for a few moments with Sinners of the Seven Seas, followed by backing vocals, then Attila‘s voice guides us through its simple rhythm, offering more martial moments. Same feeling for Kyrie Klitorem, which despite its dark symphonic elements sometimes leaves us almost alone with the vocalist as our only reference point, then makes us want to chant the choruses with him before Heretic Hunters adopts intriguing Folk influences to develop its riffs. The vocals bring in more playful touches, then it’s with 1589 and its historical facts that the band returns to its imposing, almost cold approach, allowing the guitars to stand out before Viva Vulgata returns to the religious choirs that accompany the more solemn moments. Dark tones appear again on Wake Up the Wicked, which adopts aggressive, jerky Old School patterns, barely softening on the choruses, then the raw riffs are swapped again for happier harmonics to welcome Joan of Arc, a composition letting facts meet Powerwolf’s touch. Thunderpriest reminds me of some of the band’s earlier compositions, whether with the rage of the instrumental or the unifying refrains that will have crowds singing along before We Don’t Wanna Be No Saints takes us back to their Heavy Metal roots. Keyboards and other orchestrations complement the guitarists’ simple riffs just as well as ever, before Vargamor gradually brings the album to a close with a progressive and then more direct dimension, all the while proposing a relatively dark tone.
Powerwolf‘s recipe hasn’t changed, and it’s as effective as ever. Although its compositions are slightly shorter than usual, Wake Up the Wicked allows the wolves to continue their ascent, and make the halls sing.
85/100
