WOLF PEOPLE

Wow, this album is epic. It sounds like a mix between Tool, Hawkwind and Black Sabbath. I mean, it has everything. Heavy riffs, cool lead guitar, powerful rhythms, and clear melodic vocals. My favorite track off of this album would probably be "Ninth Night". I think that it put the album to a good start, and it stayed that good the whole way through. Honestly I can't believe that this album is so unpopular on this site, this album is pure gold. I would recommend this album to anybody, whether you like prog rock or metal. This album would make a great addition to any record collection.

Before anything else, i must say that i was using this site for quite a while for finding good music for my taste. Recently i was digging deep into Wolf People's discography. And this album stuck with me. I come here to just give a vote to this album. Not just because I'm fanboying about them, because i felt the same feelings when i first listened Genesis' Selling England by the Pound, Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick or Van der Graaf Generator's Godbluff. I cannot find a better comparison for a Prog record to give it a classic status. Surely there is much more complex or unique sounding records out there. But the main reason why i think this one is a modern classic is because it feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. It gave me both Western musical norms at an utmost level and also more Eastern, Middle Eastern if you will, exotic tastes at the same time. It gaves some Turkish Anatolian Rock, English Folk and Psychedelic vibes. And this is what Prog is essentially: a strongly structured eclectic musical feast.

OK where to start. Zeppy Heaven it's not, it's Sabbath, no maybe Hawkwind, hold on that might be Jethro Tull, maybe Hidria Spacefolk, Pentacle, even Soundgarden. One of the problems listening to so much prog is that you end up constantly comparing, looking for similarities. Since none of us are born in a vacuum unless someone plays a tuba with their left foot underwater in 13/8 accompanied by Krummerhorns it won't be original (and did Gentle Giant not do that?). This is a refreshing, modern rift heavy, folksy, journey. Very quickly you can hear and feel the band's identity. Ninth Night and Rhine Sagas pulsate with raw energy, but it is in Kingfisher that there is true gold. Instantly grabbing, hypnotic vocals and riff. Is there a hint of Stone Roses? When it ends you want more, and more (and that's what you get with two reprises).Thistle begins with grunging guitar but soon the sweet harmony vocal comes in. Whereas Crumbling Dais starts with a mellow flute before the heavy guitar cuts in, but there are still the distinctive vocal. For some reason it reminds me of the Horslips (as does Belong), but it doesn't sound like the Horslips, it's more the mix of heavy guitar with at times folksy vocal. Not Me Sir, as a die-hard Hidria fan the opening is top notch but as soon as the vocals cut in we are dragged from Finnish space-proginess to lupine serenity. The impression is of band playing comfortably in their own space. No over-complication for the sake of it. This is my favourite prog album for 2016.

I'm fain to shout from the rooftops: I love this album!!

Normally I flee from the word "folk" quicker than Neil Peart runs from a fan convention but Spotify recommended them to me and I gave the album "Fain" a listen. I'm glad I did because this is a seductive psych tour of the grassy fields and smoky inns of the British Isles in a Volkswagon Camper van.

I always loved the quasi-celtic sounds occasionally thrown into bands like Thin Lizzy and Marillion and this has the gaelic charm in spades. Fuzzed out guitar predominates over the doleful vocals like a modern day Jethro Tull and each song tells a story. There are riffs a plenty and prog fans particularly lovers of 60s pioneers like Cream, Hendrix and Traffic should love every last beat of this. "All Returns", "Answer" and "Empty Vessels" are the standouts for me on a very consistent album.

Give it a chance, I give it 4 stars.

The WOLF PEOPLE are a band I discovered in the Fall thanks to a thread on the ProgEars site where a couple of videos were posted. This particular album is modern Folk with a psychedelic flavour throughout. Lots of fuzzed out guitars with a vocalist who sings in a reserved manner, and the lyrics are very well done. These guys had to have heard of AMON DUUL II or else it's just a coincidence that the Germans come to mind often during this recording.

"Empty Vessels" is such a feel good tune to start with the guitar playing over top. Vocals join in. A calm around 2 1/2 minutes then it turns heavier. I must admit ANEKDOTEN comes to mind a lot during this track. "All Returns" starts off in a dark mood and builds until it kicks in with guitar out front. A catchy melody follows then it settles right down as the vocals arrive. Fuzzed out guitar 2 minutes in that sounds amazing as the vocals stop. He's ripping it up then it settles back with that catchy melody once again as themes are repeated. Great tune ! "When The Fire Is Dead In The Grate" is passionate a minute in with backing vocals adding to the pleasure. As per usual the tempo and mood shifts throughout this song as well. I love the instrumental break starts at 4 minute mark and continues for almost 2 1/2 minutes to end the song. Another fantastic track. "Athol" is laid back and almost trippy to start. It kicks into another gear a minute in with vocals to follow. Catchy stuff. Very cool lyrics too. It turns dramatic 3 1/2 minutes in and I have to mention the excellent drumming too on this one.

"Hesperus" is another song where the lyrics take us back to a day long ago. The contrasts of the mellow and heavier sections make this one of my favourites on here. Again the backing vocals add so much to the music. Just a pleasure. "Answer" features guitar melodies that sound amazing then it settles in with vocals. Those guitar melodies will come and go as contrasts continue. "Thief" is such a cool story about a thief of high renown who has been captured. Folk music at it's best right here. "NRR" is bombastic to start then it the tempo picks up. Vocals just before a minute as that urgent rhythm continues. The vocals will come and go. This one rocks out pretty good at times.

Not being the biggest fan of Folk music this did take a few spins before I connected with it but now you can count me as one of the pack. Just a great album.