2 Wolves - Not Worth It

2 Wolves is a metal band from Finland, who formed in 2011.  Their latest release, “Not Worth It,” is their fifth full-length album.  This my first experience with the band so, going in blind, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Well, it is safe to say I am blown away by “Not Worth It.”  The music is definitely rooted in Gothic Doom but has a melancholic, melodic atmosphere not unlike melodic death.  This pedigree isn’t a surprise considering their country of origin.  No one creates broken and beaten down melancholy like Finland.   I would best describe this album as the love child of Moonspell and Swallow The Sun.  If that doesn’t get you excited, then there is little hope for you.

Musically, they have plenty of moments of transitioning from clean to distorted tones, fully grasping the depressive aspects of doom by embracing it with a Gothic touch.  The tempo is slow to mid-paced but there are a few moments here and there where the band speeds it up a couple notches.  Overall, it is a miserable album (compliment) that only genres like Gothic and doom can do but I’ll be damned if it isn’t catchy as hell.  Humming along to misery never felt so good.  As expected, the album is laced with a lot of melodies, harmonies, and clean keys/piano that help the songs not only stand out but latch onto you.

Production/mix/mastering is fantastic. With all the layers and dynamics happening, nothing is ever lost–every instrument shines through the murkiness in a big way to offer a rich, full sound so the sadness can smack you right in the face.

The album opens with “No Longer,” and it’s clean tones, with melodic bass at the center.  The rhythm guitar provides steady waves while melodies lace the atmosphere, pushing the song to the vocalist and his deep, baritone cleans. 

When he throws out deep growls and gritty screams, the drums kick up the intensity while the guitars take a more melodic route. It's a big sound that hits all the sweet spots for what I look for in Gothic doom.

The band builds up their songs nicely as evident with “Man Of A Thousand Faces.” The opening acts as a nearly two minute intro and it is during this the musicians showcase their commanding presence.

Like the ebb and flow between night and day, the two moods clash yet one cannot exist without the other. The highlight  is the ending when where keys and lead guitar take each other's hand for a strong finish.

“Where Birds Can Sing No More” throws black metal into the mix. The band is highly adapt at playing the style but they also, from a songwriting standpoint, incorporate it effortlessly into the other elements of their sound. The halfway point is one of the best moments on the album. The bass takes over, providing a low deep end while melodic textures dance around it.

The album closes with “The One That Is Gone,” and its a somber instrumental that brings a fitting finality to the album.  2 Wolves’ “Not Worth It,” is a powerful piece of Gothic melodic doom that will appeal to a wide variety of people.