Monday 20 November 2017

Wolf Counsel - Age Of Madness/Reign Of Chaos (Album Review)


Release date: November 17th 2017. Label: Czar Of Bullets. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Age Of Madness/Reign Of Chaos - Tracklisting

1.WolvenEarth 05:33
2.Semper Occvltvs 04:53
3.Age Of Madness/Reign Of Chaos 10:05
4.O' Death 04:28
5.Eternal Solitude 05:19
6.Coffin Nails 04:19
7.Remembrance 06:50

Members

Ralf W. Garcia – Bass/Vocals
Reto Crola – Drums
Andreas Reinhart – Guitars
Ralph Huber – Guitars

Review

Wolf Counsel has bestowed upon us all their 3rd full length album, Age of Madness / Reign of Chaos. I was kind of unsure what to say about the album after a couple of listens, but there was one particular morning in which I was on my way to work and in a rather foul mood. It was at this point that the record really and truly resonated with me. The band delivers a classic doom sound with a modern feel to it. 
I know this sounds of a bit of an oxymoron, but hear me out. The seven songs presented have the feel of the classic doom sounds of say Cathedral, but with a more modern twist of some newer metal. I often times am reminded of Pallbearer, but without the tendency to meander musically.
On to the songs…. Wolven Earth opens the album. It is a song that is soaked in the classic doom metal sound. Semper Occultus continues the heavy, but brings in a unique more modern metal sound that was alluded to earlier. The title track Age of Madness / Reign of Chaos is a return to the heavy doom sound of the opener. It is over 10 minutes of righteous oppressive doom. O'Death follows and it is a real surprise. A killer track with female vocals. (My apologies for not knowing the vocalist) The song takes the bands power and provides a dark background for the haunting, beautiful ethereal voice of the singer.
Eternal Solitude hits you with a more modern rock/pop sound that continues to shine a light on the bands chameleon like talent. Coffin Nails comes at you next with plenty of big drums and an unusual sounding vocal delivery that gives the song plenty of dark charm. Remembrance closes the album out with a final dose of quintessential doom metal. The anguished refrain to "Remember" haunts the listener to the very end.
Age of Madness / Reign of Chaos demands repeated listens, as it is nuanced and heavy. In a year that has seen some pretty amazing Doom records being released, Wolf Counsel has released one of the best. Dig on it!

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

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