All religions that exist have a dark side, in general, linked to the fanatic people that can’t understand the freedom we all have to have an expression of faith (or even none). And history depicts very sad moments and injustices siding with religious intolerance. But as everything can become useful in a way or on other, taking advantage of an almost religious outfit and mythology, the German quintet POWERWOLF created a solid career. And here they’re back with the band’s “Wake Up the Wicked”, their 12th full-length. Joost van den Broek once more worked with the band, producing, recording and mixing the album at Sandlane Recording Facilities, Rijen (Netherlands), with the mastering being signed by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, Nashville (USA). The sonority, as expected, is clean and defined, but giving the band that particular appeal that boosts their music to its best outfit. And the artwork of Zsofia Dankova is amazing, once more focused on the persona of the Wolf, a symbol they use since their early days.

For those that follows the band’s career throughout these 20 years of existence, when dealing with “Wake Up the Wicked” will feel as it’s a compendium of all they did until the moment, keeping their feet on the personal way into Heavy/Power Metal (it’s notorious that their musical ways evade the constant and extreme fast tempos that are usual for the genre, focusing more on shifts of melodic ambiences), with grandiose orchestral features, heavy and intense riffing and charming guitars arrangements, great work on bass guitar and drums (from where all their musical weight comes from), and a particular way of singing (again, evading the model of thin and high tunes on the vocals, preferring expressive lower tunes). To describe their musical work with words isn’t simple, so the best to do is to take the experience by hearing it, and they created a strong candidate for one of the best albums of this year, a collection of live hits!

The album opens with a shorter song, “Bless ‘Em with the Blade”, thunderous and filled with excellent arrangements, especially on the guitars. On the sequence comes “Sinners of the Seven Seas”, one of the Singles of the album, with a remarkable chorus and charming orchestrations (once again, the interpretation of the vocals is a differential to the band’s music), and with hooking melodies that are impossible to resist. “Kyrie Klitorem” (obviously, the title is a joke), again using charming orchestrations and ambiences, but what great work on bass guitar and drums (and it’s extremely accessible as well); and then comes “Heretic Hunters”, a song with a melodic side in evidence, with another great moment from the vocals and with sharp guitars.

On “1589” is a massive set of orchestral arrangements, with pianos and keyboards reinforcing the dramatic ambience for the interpretation of the vocals and choirs. “Viva Vulgata” brings a fine mixing between heavy weight and accessible melodies, following a similar tendency to “Heretic Hunters” (but a bit more accessible) and what excellent rhythmic conductions. All title tracks carry a heavy burden of responsibility, and “Wake Up the Wicked” fulfills its duty with honor, remembering some aspects of the band’s days on “Blood of the Saints” and “Preachers of the Night” (and again, a thunderous work on bass guitar and drums); and then comes “Joan of Arc”, where once more the band coquets with accessibility, again with excellent chorus and keyboards.

Using a faster approach (without exaggerations), “Thunderpriest” brings many melodic hooks and thunderous weight (again, bass guitar and drums working on a great way), with excellent chorus. And an infant choir, “We Don’t Wanna Be No Saints” keeps a melodic ambience boosted by dynamical keyboards, and what great vocals once more. And closing comes “Vargamor” is another moment that resembles their past, with a gothic-like (in the literature sense, please) ambience with charming melodies and shifts of ambience.

Again, POWERWOLF created a masterpiece for their fans. And the Pack of Wolves is back, so hide if you can, or surrender to “Wake Up the Wicked”.