Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wolf - Edge of the World


Genre: NWOBHM
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 1984
Label: Mausoleum Records

Wolf formed under the moniker Leviathan in 1977, later changing their name to Black Axe, and finally being persuaded by their record label to settle on the name Wolf. Under this name, they released Edge of the World, their only full-length album, and one of the most epic, haunting, powerful albums ever to emerge from the NWOBHM. The songs on this record really demand your attention thanks to the spectacular vocal performance by Chris English. He has just the right amount of grit for this style of music, and he commands a true master's knack for absolutely killer melodies that stick with you long after the album ends. Every single time I spin this, the choruses to 'Highway Rider' and 'Shock Treatment' are inevitably stuck in my head for the next couple days. Unlike many of their British peers at the time, Wolf had a bit of a melancholy edge to them that is really difficult to pinpoint in words, but it is definitely there, and it really gives Wolf something unique. That's not to say these boys didn't know how to rock - there are blues riffs in spades with swagger to spare, but some of the songs just have a kind of somber, epic vibe to them, which is part of what makes Edge of the World so great. If you're a fan of NWOBHM, or just a fan of sincere, passionately-written music with unforgettable vocal hooks in general, this album is absolutely essential listening. A tragically forgotten classic.

For fans of Witch Cross, Spartan Warrior, Blackmayne, and Grim Reaper.

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