ALBUM REVIEW: Torino – Be The Wolf

There was a period of time during the mid 2010’s when blues rock was king of the radio. Five minutes could not pass without hearing a band like ROYAL BLOOD, RIVAL SONS, BAND OF SKULLS, or THE BLACK KEYS. These bands certainly all have merits and have their place among heavy music, but there certainly was an inundation. Now that the tides have shifted, it’s always surprising to see another band do their own take on this distinctive sound. Italy’s BE THE WOLF has been a disciple of this sound for three studio albums now, and on their fourth, Torino, the trio delivers a record that sounds great production wise and carries a number of songs with swagger and heft, but mostly feels a bit too homogenous and locked in to its blues rock niche.

Album opener Undefeated introduces the band with a bang. The production quality is great and every instrument sounds snappy and crisp, especially the entire rhythm section, which steals the show at numerous points throughout the record. Lead vocalist and guitarist Federico Mondelli’s soaring voice sounds nice as well behind the radio rock sheen. There’s some nice groove hidden within the song’s bridge from the drums and the song is a perfectly pleasant, if a bit same old, opener.

Following that, however, there’s a bit of a coin flip on the record until it’s conclusion. Songs like April, with its staccato MAROON 5 guitar riff opening, doesn’t really stand out in any way and feel very middle of the road. Even Mondelli’s voice doesn’t do anything to really jump out compared to his aforementioned influences. It feels like filler, as do songs like Teenage Mutants, despite its quirky, tinkling opening riff and a memorable instrumental bridge/breakdown. Sorry Not Sorry falls into this trap as well. The vocals feel a bit too one-note and the pace is plodding, even compared to some of the slower moments on the record.

Despite this, Torino does feature some standout moments. Failures feels among the most ROYAL BLOOD-esque of all the tracks, with a heavy opening riff that feels almost akin to something that SHINEDOWN would write. It’s got some great harmonies and the production really stands out even more so on this track. When the band picks up the pace is when they really shine. Tracks like Stay Awake and Pretty Little Things both have a greater sense of urgency, with the former track’s quick staccato strumming and energy making it a great fit for rock radio, and the latter’s vocals stealing the show. Dancing Rhinos is the best track on the record and an excellent closer, with the song leaning heavy into the blues with its riffs and tone. Mondelli’s uses his lower register on this song as well, which sounds even better than his naturally high voice. With a really solid hook and vocal melody, the song’s only fault is that it feels too short.

The record also succeeds when the band experiments outside their own formula. Cinnamon slows the pace down for a swaggering song with some subtle guitar and drum work, especially during the solo. It’s not flashy, but its perfectly melodic and never feels out of place. But perhaps the most interesting song on the record is the title track. At just about two minutes in length, the song starts with a synth tone that brings to mind the soundtrack for the video game Dying Light, and it quickly moves into Mondelli using his lower register once again. For being the shortest song on the record, it’s a moment that stands above the rest for being unique and a nice change of pace. The more the band pours into diversifying their sound, their trajectory will only move upward.

But as it stands, Torino is a perfectly fine record. For any radio blues rock fan, this record will be right at home in their collection. BE THE WOLF has a deal of talent and have obviously taken the time to keep their production value high. But like a lot of those mid 2010’s bands, their sound can get repetitive and monotonous, and it’s when BE THE WOLF either puts the pedal to the metal, or breaks out of their tried and true sound entirely that they become the most interesting. But for the rest of the record, there’s too much time spent in the comfort zone, and not much that sets them apart from the crowd.

Rating: 6/10

Torino is set for release on January 15th via Scarlet Records.

Like BE THE WOLF on Facebook.