Same music from new musicians

It took the rock-music ensemble Wolfmother four years to release the second album. The reason why the band’s fans were forced to wait that long is as banal as it can only be: significant lineup changes. Inconsistent phrase ‘uncorrectable creative and personal differences’ does not look sufficient to make the whole situation clear. But it is not as essential to music lovers as the fact that the band was capable to finally present another studio work. In fact, the names of those who come and go are of least importance, because the mastermind of Wolfmother has always been and remains a man called Andrew Stockdale, the band’s vocalist and guitarist. You can see it by comparing Wolfmother’s two albums, despite the differences in the lineups and remarkable time interval, having so much in common. Stockdale has always been loyal to his ideals and, as a matter of fact, simply recruited another couple of those who materialized his ideas. It is up to you to decide how bad or good that is. Meanwhile, you can be sure that if you loked the band’s first album, you are destined to like its follower.

Classic rock in modern shape

You will hear the same Wolfmother that you knew four years ago as soon as you get to taste the album’s opener, California Queen. A simple rock-n-roll riff will pave you a road straight to the seventies. Wolfmother continue listening to and playing the heroes of those glorious times, here and there putting in allusions to Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. Don’t you even try to involve active brain activity since these guys never meant to moralize or philosophize in their songs. It is not just a recommendation not to take their music too seriously, but rather a requirement. The only track that seems an exception out of this rule might be In The Morning slightly sounding on the psychedelic side, yet not supported by any other song of the album. Sine we have drawn parallels with the hard-rock of the seventies, we have to drop a word about the labor of the guitarist who outdid themselves here. The instrumentalists share the leading parts to skillfully execute solos embracing the emotional voice undoubtedly oriented at Robert Plant’s sample. Surprisingly this is keys that have the main role in the album’s last track called Violence Of The Sun. This six-minute composition could not sound any better be it at the beginning or middle of Cosmic Egg.

Cosmic Egg leaves much space for hope

The amazing thing about Wolfmother’s second album is that it sounds like the sequel of their debut record. It brings the sensation that the musicians simply left the studio for a smoking break and quickly came back to make everything that we liked on the 2005 CD. Dwelling on the border between heavy metal and rock, the Australian band keeps on paying tributes to the legendary performers many of whom no longer show up on the stage. Putting aside the musical content of Cosmic Egg, we have to note that the songs gained more maturity with the instruments reaching more harmony. Now Wolfmother looks more like a big time band with serious ambitions compared to that young ensemble whose members did not know what cooperation is about. Although the music aspect of Wolfmother remains one person’s priority, this very person seems to have reached perfect understanding with the new partners; and it’s definitely a good sign. Now the band’s fans have reasons to believe their darlings will work steadily and fruitfully.

Alex Bartholomew

02.11.2009

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