WOLF has succeeded in, at least, one thing: even if their kind of Metal has explicit references to the legacy of 'classic' Metal legends (some may even be supposing - listening to one of the Swedish band's albums - that it could as well be released 20-25 years ago music-wise), none has/would accuse them of being tribute copycats. Funny thing is there's - eventually - no reason for such verdict, since all WOLF albums are such kick-ass that you bang your head against any malicious thought/accusation in advance. Thankfully, Ravenous carries the same or even better quality; hence, prepare for a metallic assault for this album takes no prisoners.
It may sound funny but, even for their 'classic' Metal likes, WOLF has presented nothing less than a gradually remarkable discography. If their 1999/2000 same-titled debut was old-school and solid, then 2002's Black Wings exposed supersonic metallum and vague vagabondism, then 2004's Evil Star was a prominent 'classic' while well-rounded with steel, then 2006's The Black Flame offered some extravagant rock-hard Metal music to the very end. No bullshit, WOLF step on something that's been played in the glorious 80s but have the balls to eventually leave their own mark in every effort they come around with.
50% of the lineup has changed for the Swedish clan. Johannes Axeman Losback (guitar, backing vocals) and Richard Raptor Holmgren (drums) step in and they wonderfully support the new album, resulting in excellence and metallic majesty allover Ravenous. There are fast songs delivering the goods in endless headbanging, there's this mid-tempo banging lunacy, there's the tremendous guitar work expressed through a sharp sound, there's the impressive traditional leads shaking brains, there's the pounding drums/bass sending malignant shivers down your poor spine, there's the malicious vocal lines (single or double) manifesting a Metal soldier's ideals, there's the mystique or 'established' Metal atmosphere floating in these 48 minutes of 'raising fist' music not suitable for 'ethereal' or 'aggressive' likes (...) by any means.
When the art lyricism of IRON MAIDEN, the in-your-face raggedness of JUDAS PRIEST, the 'evil smell' of MERCYFUL FATE, the street promptitude of SAXON, the Teutonic vitality of (old) RUNNING WILD and (early) HELLOWEEN and the bellicose attitude of mid-80s RIOT are mixed into one final nasty amalgam, then you should expect nothing less than a fluent album that reminds us of what Metal music is (or should be) made of. To anticipate the attackers's thoughts, the production/sound does justice to both the songwriting's ritual and the era's standards (not being 50/50 of course, haha).
In a world where Heavy Metal music is the law, this band/album shall you obey to. All the songs all killers. All of them. Ravenous sounds to my ears as WOLF's best album to date. That simple. (More than) a 'must' for both mature and young Metal aficionados.