• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
• Illusion Force: Halfana
• Powell-Payne: Voilá

November 2024

• Sunstorm: Restless Fight
• Storace: Crossfire
• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Wolfen: Rise Of The Lycans

Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal

4.0/5.0

Website Facebook
Pure Steel Records
Releasing: 22.06.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.06.2018

Germany's Wolfen makes their return with their sixth studio effort, Rise Of The Lycans. The album features the return of drummer Sigfried Grutz and the arrival of second guitarist Andreas Doetsch to the wolf pack.

Wolfen

What hasn't changed is Wolfen's commitment to classic thrash infused power metal. Their musical formula is both familiar and predictable: start with thick and thrashy twin guitar riffage, throw in a galloping pace driven by the beefy rhythm section, and then race to the brisk and fiery guitar solos. Much of this started with the last album Evilution. But the problem with that album was that it was heavy on the power thrash metal, and light on melody and harmony. This time around both have improved. The guitar riffs are still intense and tough, yet with more harmony. Taking their lead from the vocal line, both the guitars and rhythm section are picking up on the subtle melodies. Additionally, Wolfen has put more rock groove into their power metal, another good thing.

You'll hear all these improvements in songs such as Rise Of The Lycans, Timekeeper, and Genetic Sleepers. Another notable song is New World Order, which has an excellent bass and drum start before twin guitar harmony drops in. Then the song turns more on moderate and traditional heavy metal pacing. With Science & Religion you get a light electric guitar start before developing into another steady, riff sturdy, heavy metal tune.

All said, for Wolfen, as compared to their previous album, Rise Of The Lycans is a new and better album of their thrash infused power metal, thanks to a greater infusion of harmony, melody, and groove. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

For Wolfen, as compared to their previous album, Rise Of The Lycans is a new and better album of their thrash-infused power metal, thanks to a greater infusion of harmony, melody, and groove. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]