ALBUM REVIEW: Birth of Violence – Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Wolfe is one of the more peculiar artists to be embraced by the heavy metal world. Whilst the singer-songwriter has never been a typically metallic outfit, her decorated back catalogue has blended the soundscapes of doom, gothic rock and folk to create a sound that has been welcomed with open arms. Two years on from the sensational Hiss Spun and Wolfe returns with Birth of Violence.
Whilst Hiss Spun and 2015’s Abyss incorporated strokes of noise, doom and industrial to her musical canvas, Birth of Violence sees Wolfe return more to her roots. Feeling akin to 2012’s Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs, Birth of Violence sees Chelsea Wolfe at her most raw and emotional; and it is one captivating listen. Opening number The Mother Road is drenched with emotion right from the get-go as Wolfe, armed with only an acoustic guitar, croons melody lines with real conviction, captivating you instantly. Subtle melodies are the driving force of this track and its emphatic build in the final third offers a brief moment of euphoria only to subside into a subdued feeling. It’s a terrific start to the album and sets the tone for what is to follow.
Dark and moving moments of ambience and sorrowful melodies lie at the beating heart of Birth of Violence and acts as the bedrock for Wolfe to weave her exquisite talents across the record’s twelve tracks. American Darkness‘ subtle use of melody and gorgeous instrumentation allow Wolfe‘s vocals to soar, raising the hairs on the back of the neck, particularly in the tear-jerking chorus as she repeatably croons “won’t you dance?”. The lullaby-esque nature of Little Grave, a fragile ballad addressing the modern tragedies of school shootings, boats intricate melodies and Wolfe‘s vocals dispatched at but a whisper whilst Deranged For Rock & Roll stands as arguably one of the finest songs Chelsea Wolfe has crafted to date. Here, her vocals intertwine beautifully with her guitar melodies to create moving verses and the chorus is so infectious, you’ll be singing it back for days on end.
In fact, it’s remarkable at just how well Birth of Violence flows. Although the overarching musical mood of the album is Wolfe stripped back to her reclusive roots, the subtle splashes of varying moods and tones just helps the album feel completely organic. From the ethereal whispers of When Anger Turns To Honey to the more psychedelic vibes of Dirt Universe, the ability Wolfe has to craft songs of desolate beauty are simply remarkable and as a body of work, it is completely intoxicating. Even in the album’s latter stages, where you’d anticipate some waning given the emotional weight of the record, Wolfe continues to fire on all cylinders. Preface To A Dream Play‘s ear-pleasing musical and vocal melodies are juxtaposed through sporadic splashes of swirling synths packing a sinister edge, Highway‘s sole focus on Wolfe‘s vocals are simply jaw-dropping and the rolling thunder and downpour heard on finale The Storm acts as the perfect way to bring such an emotional ride to a close.
Time and time again, Chelsea Wolfe proves that she is one of the strongest songwriters of the 21st Century. Upon each release, Wolfe incorporates new textures to her musical tapestry and with Birth of Violence, Chelsea Wolfe has struck gold once again. Desolate, emotional but entirely inviting at the same time, Birth of Violence is the perfect companion as the nights draw longer and winter looms on the horizon.
Rating: 9/10
Birth of Violence is set for release on September 13th via Sargent House.
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