Leaden
Wolfshead
•
February 3, 2018
"Leaden" is the first full length album of Finnish band WOLFSHEAD, a contribution to to the ever- growing world of Metal that can be counted as the specific time for a hardworking band to acquire the element needed to start connecting with what can be a worldwide fan base in the few years right around the corner, which become a trademark period for every band after being able to put together their first full length album.
The inside of a huge cave with a band of orcs, trolls, elves, pixies, goblins and a singing demon with a huge crowd of fantastic beings from all sorts of different realms, seems to be the perfect scenario where a song like "Vukodlak" would take place and develop, different elements of the best features of Metal into one song that works perfectly as an opening for an album with very well put approaches to various sorts of Metal. As the folk element is left behind with tracks that become sludgier and are more energetic and less mystic that the album opener, the voice of the lead singer even appears to change adjusting to the general mood of the song as a musical theater thespian would do, the guitar solos and riffs in songs like "Purifier" start becoming more hard rock oriented and experimental as the album advances; though a bit confusing at the start, I find it positive that a band experiments with such distinctive and contrasting tones in without losing a general essence to the concept of their first full length album.
After two demos and one EP, the band founded in Oulu Finland, have made it to the point where their opera prima couldn't be more precise and with tracks like "When the Stars Are Right" they can prove that the time couldn't be better. A blend of elements that makes this A grade Metal with different shades of becoming and being one with whatever their purpose is when it comes to expressing themselves through music.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Leaden" Track-listing:
1. Vukodlak
2. Children Shouldn't Play With
3. Purifier
4. When the Stars are Right
5. Division of the Damned
6. Haruspex
7. Winds over Potter's Field
8. The Hangman
Wolfshead Lineup:
Tero Laine - Vocals
Ari Rajaniemi - Guitar
Vesa Karppinen - Bass
Jussi Risto - Drums
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