Dwelling with the caverns of the honey-combed earth, WEREWOLVES has emerged to present its vicious brand of Extreme Metal.  Forming in 2019 in Melbourne, Australia, the band certainly benefits from the astute pedigree of prominence held by fellow Aussies such as DESTROYER 666, NOCTURNAL GRAVES, and BESTIAL WARLUST.  The tag of Technical Black/Death Metal is a fitting one though overall, the band's sound lingers more in the lands of Death Metal than its blackened counterpart.  An apt description would be to reference classic CARCASS and the more recent output from ABORTED colored with the distinguished aura of Second Wave Black Metal.  This is an album fueled by vitriol.

"Self-Help Book Burning," the first track, is like an eruption of visceral brutality.  Blazing riffs colored by the fires of hades leap and gleam throughout.  It is in the latter half of the song where a tangible Black Metal vibe is presented which then morphs into a cutting riff that quite literally slices into the listener.

The following song, "We are Better Than You" says out loud what every elitist Metalhead thinks!  There is no shortage of humorous plays on words when it comes to song titles.  Such tongue-in-cheek humor aids in the delivery of the band's message. Ultimately, the song has a violent Swedish Death Metal beginning which then morphs into a sound that could be likened to an invigorated AT THE GATES.  The strains of music that influence this band are clearly audible and echo many of those held dear by the many fans of Extreme Metal.

To say the production is pristine is an understatement.  With so very much transpiring, it would be easy for a guitar riff or two to get lost in the mix but that is not the case.  Rather, control is retained in the production booth like a conductor of a maddened orchestra.  Holding proceedings by ensuring the many tracks that embody the album are perfectly equalized and have the ideal volume level must have been quite the task, yet it was definitely a success.

The various colors of guitar blend well with the constantly booming percussion and bass that inhabit the depths of the womb from which these tunes were born.  The percussion in particular enlivens the album breathing necessary oxygen into the songs like a life-giving heartbeat although extremely fast!  Undoubtedly, this is one of the more startling recent percussion performances.

Another high mark of the album is the seventh track, "Nuclear Family Holocaust".  Benefitting from another witty title, the song is shaped and formed in the forge of countless Extreme Metal elites.  Simply put, it is head-splitting savagery!  This trend continues with the following track, "Pride and Extreme Prejudice" which was fittingly juxtaposed next to its predecessor.  The forward momentum created can be likened to the kinetic energy of a giant boulder hurtling down the side of a steep cliff.

"From the Cave to the Grave" makes an indelible impression.  Its hymns of random brutality and the twisted irony of modern life exhibit an astute balance of Extreme Metal elements.  It is very much an album that will appeal to many across myriad genre lines.  In five or ten years, this could be an album people still reference as a gloriously fitting example of the abrasive nature of modern Extreme Metal.