ALBUM REVIEW: The Dead Are Screaming – Werewolves
Extreme metal as of late is in phenomenal health. With scenes worldwide populated with a flock of jaw-dropping talent, if you like your metal as heavy as it gets, chances are, there has never been a better time to be into heavy music. The flipside to this densely populated musical world however, is that for new bands to truly stand out from the crowd, the competition has never been tougher. Arriving on the scene with their debut outing, The Dead Are Screaming, comes WEREWOLVES, a band looking to hit the ground running.
Fusing together the brutality of death metal and the sinister bite of black metal, WEREWOLVES‘ mission objective is to put forward a sound that captures blind hatred and venomous blastbeats in a bottle, and the trio that comprise the band for the most part, achieve just that. The Dead Are Screaming is a blistering, no-holds-barred joyride of vicious metal. Establish Dominance kicks the record off with a bang as a barrage of blastbeats, pummelling riffing and devilish snarls from Sam Bean give the first indicator to the firepower in the WEREWOLVES camp. It’s a shock and awe approach and those who like their metal on the more extreme side of the fence will find a lot to love here.
From there, WEREWOLVES continue to fire on all cylinders and there are moments on The Dead Are Screaming which are truly excellent. Know Your Place‘s frenzied and grinding pace injects bout after bout of adrenaline straight into your veins, Dogknotted‘s black metal undertones helps the song retain its bite and No More Heroes‘ flirtation with thrash metal-esque riffing is a neat and subtle touch to help the song stand on its own two feet.
Equally, the one two punch of the more technical-leaning Irate and blackened pummelling of album closer Showering Teeth boast some of the best moments on the entire record, showcasing the experience within the band’s ranks. Given that the band have a wealth of experience within their repertoire (the trio have performed in the likes of PSYCROPTIC and THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM for example), it comes as no surprise that WEREWOLVES know their way around writing metal with enough hooks to ensnare their prey.
Thpigh t’s clear that WEREWOLVES have utilised their shared experience to refine their sonic brand of musical chaos, the record is not without its shortcomings. Whilst the moments that do connect do so oh so brilliantly, these moments are sprinkled across the record rather than being a sustained package of excellence. Beating Those We Despise is largely forgettable as the band’s dedication to being as fast and blistering as possible starts to wear thin and Gnaw Their Bones, whilst boasting some slick riffing, doesn’t pack the same punch as the album’s early aural exchanges.
On reflection, this is is the biggest issue with The Dead Are Screaming. As a body of work, the album wears itself thin, this is a by the numbers death metal album. Songs are fine and solid on their own individual merit but listening to the album from start to finish is more of a slog rather than an adrenaline-surging full-throttle roller-coaster. This is, of course, no discredit to WEREWOLVES, their proficiency of their craft is certainly passable, instead, this is a deeper issue of death metal as a whole.
For a debut effort, The Dead Are Screaming does enough to stand on its own two feet in a crowded and competitive market. Whilst there are moments that won’t connect as well as they should, and the album can feel more of a slog than the brutal joyride it should be, WEREWOLVES display enough talent and conviction to appeal to the ears of the extreme music fan. Those who enjoy their metal as brutal as it can be will find a lot to love here, but to truly establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with, perhaps splashes of experimentation will yield richer rewards.
Rating: 7/10
The Dead Are Screaming is set for release April 24th via Prosthetic Records.
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