Search - Wolf :: Black Flame

Best of the modern retro 80's metal bands

Ryan Seek | Maricopa, AZ United States | 10/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are a many great modern-day retrospective old school metal bands that are just starting to catch their groove in the new century. Top contenders include: Cage, Benedictum, Astral Doors, Winter's Bane, Icarus Witch, Pharoah, and... of course, Wolf. Some may argue that the 80's metal genre has been played out for originality, and maybe that's a given. If so, what you do with the "given" is what makes the difference, and Wolf delivers in spades (and CLAWS!) with The Black Flame.



With their new album, Wolf has tossed their hat in the ring to compete as best of the new retro. The Black Flame is a full-on metal assault from the old days, somewhere in the old-school Maiden/Priest vein (while sounding like neither) with an accelerated, modern day tempo. The high-point being that Wolf sounds original while clearly showing influences from their youth. So, don't expect any copy-cats because this band can't be described that way. It's just old school metal played the way it should be in the Year-of-Our-Lord, 2006.



The songwriting is superb at points and really good throughout, each band member standing out in their respected crafts. The singer can be a high-pitch air raid siren when he wants to be, but also delivers in a raspier, yet still melodic style reminiscent of classic 80s metal bands like Queensryche, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. The guitar solos are frequent and blistering to the ears, the bass-lines are solid and follow their own path without straying too far, and the eclectic, and quite frenetic, drummer never stops to take a breath (without being repetitive).



The most attractive part to me is this band's eerie similarities to the obscure 80s Danish band Witchcross. My old high-school friends and I always wished Witchcross would reunite and re-capture the magic and now they have. Except, as far as I know, no one in Wolf has any connections to the guys who played in Witchcross back in the days. The fact that they are from neighboring Sweden makes me wonder. It's all Scandinavia, right?



Anyway, Wolf just keeps better with each album and with The Black Flame they've reached the upper echelon of modern metal bands. Don't miss out on this gem, one of the best albums of 2006."

A Trad/Old School metal masterpiece

Balto The Wolfdog | Nome, Alaska | 10/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a Wolf fan for some time, and have the previous three CDs, but this might just be my favourite. A slight change from Evil Star, with more melody in the songs, and some nice harmony guitar, my favourite tracks at the moment are 'I will Kill Again' and 'Demon'.

It's great to see a band producing excellent heavy metal. Yes, heavy metal, but with it's own slant in the songs, enhanced by Niklas' distinctive voice. Sure the lineup has changed, but this hasn't drastically changed the signature sound.

A well produced sound completes the picture.

This is only the fourth cd from Wolf since 1999, but, unlike some bands, they have ensured that each cd is a quality release.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes quality trad heavy metal, and everyone else should at least go to the Wolf website (www.wolf,nu) and download the first track from their downloads section to see what they are missing."

Wolf....metal gods for these times!!

S. Bailey | 04/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"wELL, WELL, WELL, Im just some old 42 year old metalhead. This sounds like Maiden,Priest,...M.Fate...some distant metal riffs in the fog.....

Wolf might just be the next biggest band in metal> I got the cd in the mail and after opening it and playing a few songs my girlfriend asked,,,

Is this an 80s metal band?....I told her they were a recent band...well she was shocked!......If you crave Number of The Beast,,,Melissa,,type albums...you will get it here......this is a godsend....or a lucifersend...of a cd.~!!!!"