“Everyone has to feel the frailty of existence.”
Wolves at the Gate is a band that, to me and I’m sure many others, is often a gateway band into heavy music. The Christian metalcore unit plays a style that is accessible and familiar, rarely groundbreaking but generally reliable. With a steady stream of albums over the years, it seems that they are ready to take things in a different direction with their latest offering, Wasteland.
Right off the bat with first single “PARASITE”, the djenty, more modern metalcore approach of this album is apparent. Landing with an impact that feels new for Wolves at the Gate, the surprisingly bouncy main riff is a fairly solid introduction to this new sound. Although not spared from a fairly arena metal pre-chorus, the song overall is a welcome shift from the band’s usual style as it offers a heavier, angrier approach. The low-string riffing from lead guitarist Joe Alarcon and the high-energy performance of drummer Abishai Collingsworth displays a stronger, tighter instrumentation from the band that is welcome.
This sets the general tone and sound of Wasteland, which as the name suggests, thematically delves into human depravity and a hope for divine intervention. There’s an interconnectedness to the album demonstrated by its connecting tracks and an abundance of interludes. The electronic-laced djenty sound follows throughout the album, which in many ways contributes to a more cohesive sound overall.
A definite highlight of the album would be its heavier cuts. Showing off an aggression previously untapped, there’s a certain refreshing quality when they commit to the impact. “LAW OF THE (Waste) LAND” sees lead vocalist Nick Detty display a strong range of screams, a much more unhinged performance from the usual with an impressive set of low gutturals that carry a hefty gravity. The track itself is a solid, albeit fairly standard modern metalcore performance with its 7-string riffs and low tunings, but its executed well enough to be enjoyable. ”SMOKE (False Devils)” blends Wolves At The Gate’s hallmarks with this newer sound, featuring an anthemic chorus delivered by guitarist-vocalist Steve Cobucci. The track carries a familiar foundation but hits with a different flavour with a more gritty approach.
There are points where this sound can start to wear on me, as it is fairly uniform throughout the album. Early album cut “SYNTHETIC SUN” bears the heavier sound, but in execution feels rather octanecore in a way that doesn’t quite land. While still a fine track on its own, it doesn’t feel as fully realised as the rest of the album. “DEATH CLOCK” feels like a stronger version of this idea. While it hinges on its chorus, the verses have a weightier impact in contrast. The accessible nature of Wolves At The Gate’s sound is ultimately ingrained into their sound and while mileage may vary, it’s nonetheless interesting to see how they have incorporated new elements into the style.
Late album cute “MEMENTO MORI” and closer “UNREST” struck as particularly noteworthy. The former takes a melodic, anthemic approach with an expansive atmosphere. In contrast to the heavier sound of the rest of the album, the track provides a nice respite. “UNREST” gives Alarcon a chance to shine with a set of progcore-styled riffs into the intro. Scobucci delivers a captivating chorus, with its anthemic nature pointing towards a hopefulness in the picture of bleakness that most of the album paints.
Although it doesn’t necessarily break new ground in heavy music, Wasteland undoubtedly demonstrates a clear vision from Wolves At The Gate that translates into the cohesiveness of the album. There’s an effort to blend new and old, and although there are points where I hoped they could have pushed the envelope even further, the resulting album is still a satisfying listen. The earnest message of hope and faith in the midst of adversity is one that I appreciate wholeheartedly. There are a good number of paths opened for the band to explore sonically, and hopefully the band will continue to innovate and build on this steady foundation.
7/10
Wasteland released today, the 30th of May via Solid State Records. Merch links for the album can be found here.