PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Aussie Death Metal Machine set out to smash you further underground with their 4th full-length release.
Since their inception during the delights of the Covid pandemic, Australia’s Werewolves have been relentless in their aim to deliver a succession of uncompromising pure DM albums. For those unfamiliar with them, the band comprises Matt Wilcock (The Antichrist Imperium, The Berserker, Abramelin, ex Akercocke), Sam Bean (The Antichrist Imperium, The Berserker), and David Haley (Abramelin, Psycroptic). 3 chaps with a fine extreme metal pedigree behind them.
Caveman Death Metal…
That is exactly what Sam Bean calls Werewolves‘ brand of DM. However, this is far from primitive stuff, being quality technical music. Now the lyrics are definitely another kettle of fish – expect a LOT of expletives throughout!
Kicking us off with “Under The Ground” – a litany to keeping DM underground, and fuck the posers and mainstream, we are immediately hit with a ferocious whirlwind of a riff and lightspeed blast beats. Given the other bands of two-thirds of the lineup, this would not sound out of place on an Antichrist Imperium or Akercocke album. There is no denying that the music gets the lyrical message across – phrases like “Vinyl Uber Alles“, “Blastbeats are forever“, and “We are the heaviest thing you will ever fucking see“!
Next up, we have the title track of the album which deals with their overtly savage way of herd mentality and being a slave to the system. “A raving lunatic can scream truths others call perjury” is a pretty astute line no doubt aimed at certain ex-US Presidents, and certain Russians… Though it’s obvious within two tracks that these guys are deadly serious where the music is concerned, certain lyrical gems show there is also a fun side to this whole project. I won’t spoil it for you, but it made me chuckle out loud whilst reading and listening! check out the lyric video for it here
A bit of a lyrical curveball next, as “Bring Me To The Kill” starts off sounding as if it is about undergoing cancer treatment, before devolving into a zombie vampire kind of thing about brutally slaying everyone. This one starts with a brutal drum fill before Sam’s guttural roar heralds the vocals and riffs.
No let up at all…
3 tracks down, and maybe you’re expecting a little breather? Nah, you soft bugger! It’s still pedal to the metal all the way as we “Brace For Impact“. A song summed up by its final line – “Someone will pick up some random silicon in ten thousand years, and they will say what the fuck was that?!“
I’ve lulled you into a false sense of security here as “Destroyer of Worlds” takes up a far slower pace, and that makes it all the more ominous for it. And then about halfway through, the boosters are ignited, and a warhead of groovy yet still technical riffing drops for the remainder of the track before reaching its expletive-ridden explosion. Then we get another segue of that original slower riff. An absolutely cracking track!
Now, that phrase “Caveman Death Metal” is perfectly explained by the next track “Neanderhell“. It’s utter brutality working around the lyrical theme of to move forwards, then we as a race will eventually regress and destroy ourselves in the most violent ways possible. Nasty!
Following that last theme…
The final three tracks continue on with the lyrical themes of our species eventually destroying itself, everybody, and everything. It is Death Metal after all! And that’s exactly the point. From the first track to the last, there are no wimpy lyrics, political diatribes, ecological concerns etc.
Werewolves are the true essence of DM. No solos, no compromise, no fucks given. Keeping it underground, and keeping it true over 4 albums in 4 years is no mean feat, but Werewolves have done it. And long may they continue – this is absolute Death Metal gold, and a strong contender for my album of the year!
The Album is out NOW on Prosthetic Records in all popular formats including the lovely vinyl I got below!
Track Listing
01 – Under The Ground (02:29)
02 – My Enemies Look And Sound Like Me (03:46)
03 – Bring Me To The Kill (03:01)
04 – Brace For Impact (03:15)
05 – Destroyer Of Worlds (05:41)
06 – Neanderhell (03:28)
07 – I Hate Therefore I Am (03:24)
08 – I Knew Nothing Then and I Know Less Now (04:07)
09 – Do Not Hold Me Back (04:52)
Werewolves: (L to R) Matt Wilcock, Sam Bean, David Haley
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/werewolvesinhell/
Streaming sites: https://lnk.to/werewolvesdeathmetal
- £24.69
