Wolf People, “Ruins”
Available: Friday, Oct. 28 via Jagjaguwar Records as a digital download, compact disc, on standard black vinyl and limited edition clear vinyl LP formats.
Bedfordshire, England’s, Wolf People are comprised of Jack Sharp (guitar, vocals), Joe Hollick (guitar), Dan Davies (bass) and Tom Watt (drums). I was first introduced to their unique brand of crushingly heavy, prog-folk psychedelia around the time of their critically acclaimed 2013 release “Fain.” Audibly, “Ruins” doesn’t stray too terribly far and the record is a logical, albeit heavier in tone, extension. The band’s take on the weight of the world and its general disarray is apparent in the lyrical content and the sonic swells. “It’s not a concept album, but a lot of the songs consider what the world might be like without humans,” says singer/guitarist Jack Sharp. “The title refers to the ruins of civilization. I suppose like many people – especially now – we’re constantly veering towards complete frustration with the human race one moment, and celebrating all the positive things about humanity the next. The aim was to try and portray that without sounding too trite or preachy.” Neither trite nor preachy, “Ruins” accomplishes more than that in all 47 minutes.
Recommended if you dig elements of Black Sabbath, Woods, Rose Windows, GOAT, Dead Meadow or Dead Moon swirled together in one beautiful doom-and-gloom freak out.
— Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
