I‘m happy to announce that Elyna Khan is going to deal with a lot of the Power Metal we’ve got here (since I can’t stand it and bands deserve a fair chance). Good luck!
Hello. How are you? I hope you are all OK. Remember my controversial love story with Virtual XI? Well, today I want to share another love story that just emerged in my life. It was love at first sight—or at first listen, to be precise. A few days ago, I came across an album by a band I had never heard of. Ok, yes, this may seem like heresy to a Melodic/Yymphonic Power Metal lover, but it’s never too late to redeem yourself! So, without further ado, let’s talk about Powerwolf and its album Wake Up The Wicked.
Wake Up The Wicked— has many of the sonic elements that, as an autistic person, I consider “safe places”. To begin with, the rhythmic meter in mid-to-fast tempo, the 4/4 time signature, invigorating guitar riffs, powerful drums, and standard tuning in the eleven songs on the album create a sound map that makes my brain relax. It’s like rewatching your favorite childhood movies and feeling a mix of nostalgia, innocence, and hope. The curious thing is that, despite the title of the album, which suggests a somewhat sinister journey (as in Pet Sematary or John Carpenter’s Village of the Damned), the musicality is surprisingly comforting.
On the other hand, the vocals are a story in themselves. The epic polyphonic choruses, verses, and vocal lines are undoubtedly future anthems of the genre, and Atilla Dorn’s voice, which reminds me of Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian, adds another layer of warmth and security to the sonic experience. So you can listen to this album with no risk at all. Yet, on second thought, there is a high risk that you will become a fan of Powerwolf and its music and will want to wear your warrior outfit, take your axe or sword, and go out to fight for justice—just as it happened to me, although I still can’t get the axe nor the sword.
The mastery of musical arrangements in each song brings epic atmospheres to life. Tracks like “Thunderpriest,” with its fast tempo and wonderful polyphonic choruses; “We Don’t Wanna Be No Saints,” with its magical children’s chorus before the last catchy intermezzo; or the final track, “Vargamor,” which is epic and nostalgic, making you feel the cold wind and visualize a cloudy sky, transport you to days of anguish, fatigue, and hopelessness after the battle while evoking strength in the face of adversity. This reveals the mastery of Joost Van Den Broek in terms of production, orchestration, and mixing.
Essential Metal bands like Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Ayreon, and Epica know the magic that this alchemist of sound produces. So you already know, guys, if you want epic, dramatic sounds for your albums, Joost is definitely THE GOAT. However, Wake Up the Wicked has already received several negative reviews. Many say that it is generic or too commercial—it lacks the thunderous riffs, speed, and explosive moments found in previous albums such as Call of The Wild. It has also been said that the songs are made to be perfect for any Metal festival in Europe with Powerwolf as headliners, which detracts from the creativity and authenticity of the songs.
Personally, and despite these criticisms, Wake Up the Wicked is, in my opinion, an incredible album, full of “simple” nuances that bring peace to my autistic brain. It is an excellent starting point to get to know them more in depth. I liked it. So what! I liked it! Do I recommend it? Hell yeah! Now it’s in your hands to risk listening to it and becoming a fan. Stay Metal people!
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: 26 July
Website: https://www.facebook.com/powerwolfmetal
Country: Germany
Score: She gave no score, so think of something epic!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 