Blood of the Wolf - V: Indomitable

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Blood of the Wolf is a death metal band from Chicago, Illinois who formed in 2013.  Their latest release, “V: Indomitable,” is their latest full-length album; they have also released an EP, a compilation, and a demo.

Although I didn’t review it, I highly enjoyed their previous album, “IV: The Declaration of War.”  “V: Indomitable,” is just as good if not better.  This album has one less track than it’s predecessor and it's about six minutes shorter so the band has definitely trimmed the fat—-and it makes for an album that is brutal but has an excellent flow from song to song. 

The production is top notch–it’s loud but not overly.  Each instrument can be heard clearly in the mix as well, so the band’s precision songwriting stands out.  Speaking of which, each song is sharp and to the point, almost militant in their service to bringing the essence of the genre to the service.

If you like riffs, this album is definitely for you.  Who am I kidding?  We all like riffs.  And “V:  Indomitable,” has more riffs than stars in the sky.  It’s fast, groovy, and infectious.  Sure, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but what more could you want from a death metal album?

The album begins with the electrifying “Tempest of Purifying Fire.”  A harrowing, guttural scream rings out against slick riffs and barrage drums and after about 15 seconds, my ears already felt like they had been to hell and back (compliment).  About halfway down, the song slows for .3 seconds for the band to catch a breather…then they jump back into it.  This is a totally uncompromising song and a solid beginning to the album. 

“Glory to the Gods of War,” rips through straight away with massive riffs that could move the very earth.  The vocals are supreme in their approach and act as another instrument of punishment.  The groove across this song is catchy as hell too.  At the 3:20 mark, the band drops the hammer with some of the best riffs on the album while the drums tear it up. 

“Assembled to Annihilate,” is possibly my favorite on the album—it’s so unrelenting that it is almost surreal.  With a good pair of headphones on, this song just might cause a brain bleed.  The drums in particular are insane—fast but nice and full.  This song is dense as hell, not the least of which is due to the bass which has no issues matching the rest of the band in intensity.

The title track ends the album with a sea of violence and a bit of a thrashy feel.  The vocals are outright menacing.  After the halfway mark, the song opens up a bit to allow the guitars to breathe out a mountain of groove atop a bed of double bass.  The last 40 minutes or so sees the band taking a very slightly atmospheric approach, ending the album as searing as it began. 

Blood of the Wolf continues to produce rock solid death metal and “V:  Indomitable” is another beastly banger that deserves your attention—I can’t think of a reason why extreme metal fans wouldn’t like that. 

Rating:  Great












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