These guys released their debut album as long ago as 1996, and although it has been five years since their last effort they are now back with a new singer and a new album. This is raw power metal, with some nods towards Kreator and Iced Earth, and mostly this is about being brutal but staying within the realms of the genre without going to the extreme too much. It is almost as if the band have decided exactly what it is that they are going to produce, and don’t want to go outside of some fairly rigid constraints. I found myself thinking of Barclay James Harvest at one point though, not because these guys have anything in common musically with the 70’s UK proggers, but rather that on their classic album ‘Time Honoured Ghosts’ BJH had a song called “Titles” which was comprised solely of Beatles lyrics. Here Wolfs Moon have produced “Undying Legends” which has a similar idea, except this time we are looking at songs by Rainbow, Dio. Ozzy etc. It is a fun idea, and does lead to the listener attempting to name every track and artist involved.
Overall though, this is a solid album without ever becoming anything spectacular. It is heavy and hard-hitting, but doesn’t contain anything that really lifts it out of the ordinary. That the guys can play is never in doubt, but there isn’t enough in either the songs or vocals that make it something to which I will often return.
www.wolfsmoon.de
