WOLFSPRING

Having previously reviewed the second album from the side project of Nemo singer/guitarist JP Louveton, here we go back to 2010 and the debut where JP provided guitar, bass and vocals and was joined by Julian Clemens (vocals), Guillaum Fontaine (keys) and Ludo Moro-Sibilot (drums), all of which also played on the follow-up, 2013's 'Who's Gonna Save The World?' As with their later album, here is a progressive band that are at times very metallic, more so than the prog metal tag would normally suggest. But, there are also times when they have a very Porcupine Tree feel to the music, and this combined with strong musicianship and some great songs makes this an album that I fell in love with this the very first time I played it and the more I listened the more I got from it.

JP is always going to be associated with the mighty Nemo, and rightfully so, but this band feels much more than just a side-project, and when he riffs out on "Carpathian Wolves" I can feel the fun he is having by being able to play plenty of power chords and just blasting it out. This song in particular has a real Seventies groove, and I just want to keep turning it up. In fact, it's hard to type when I'm bouncing around as much as I do when listening to this, like the rest of the album it makes me smile, and isn't that what music is about? Enjoyment?

Having been playing this so much recently I am going to have to rediscover the latest album, then drop JP a line and ask when the next one is coming out! Superb.

This is the second album from the side-project of Nemo singer/guitarist JP Louveton, where he is joined by Julian Clemens (vocals ? importantly, unlike Nemo, the vocals are here provided in clear unaccented English), Guillaum Fontaine (keys, Irish fife), Max Moro-Sibilot on bass and Ludo Moro-Sibilot on drums. Now, I am a huge Nemo fan but it is important to put any ideas of comparisons to one side as this is a very different offering altogether. They are often referred to as being progressive metal, and I understand why that would be the case but I am not sure that I would always agree with that term as they move between 'normal' prog (if there is such a thing) in the vein of Porcupine Tree into something much heavier altogether which is more metallic than the prog metal tag would tend to indicate. JP actually likens the band to Sabbath, and if we are talking about the later post-Dio period of that band then I can see where he is coming from.

The production is superb, and while everyone has a key role in this band, particularly Julian, it is the guitar that really stands out. There are some fine solos, and at other times some crunching riffs, but this is JP's music. Unusually for a prog band, they close with a Sabbath cover, "Wheels of Confusion" which is from 'Vol.4'. It has been cleaned up and has a psychedelic edge which is fun, so although it doesn't contain the naivety of the original it is still extremely enjoyable. Makes a change from all of the 'normal' Sabbath covers as well.

All in all, just because you love Nemo don't think that this is essential: this is a totally different band playing a different kind of music altogether. But if you want to hear some classic sounding riffs that feel that they have been brought straight from the Seventies through modern recording and production techniques into the present day then this is for you. www.quadrifonic.com

I have to admit a certain degree of caution when I approached Wolfsping's debut CD, not being a true devotee of 'progressive metal' . With 'eclectic', 'symphonic', 'Canterbury','Jazz rock', 'Krautrock' or 'psychedelic/space rock' I feel as if I know what to expect and what I might like... not so with the 'progressive metal sub-genre' which in the past has landed me with as many 'played once and forgotten' albums as it has real gems - but swayed by the recommendation of a friend and my liking for the recordings of the band Nemo - I'm very glad I gave Wolfspring a listen.

Whilst Jean-Pierre Louveton's new band may be more direct than his excellent Nemo outfit, they still have plenty of elements of 'artrock' or 'symphonic prog' too.

The emphasis in the eight pieces on offer may be more on changes in dynamics rather than rapid shifts in style (as is sometimes the case with Nemo) and the guitar tends to dominate rather than sharing the limelight with the keyboards, but JP's inventiveness and imagination always keep things interesting. Alongside some crunching guitar riffs are delicate acoustic passages (the opening of Train's Gone and Now or Never being good examples) and enough rhythmic shifts to hold the attention throughout.

An album that's full of good musical ideas and great playing - good enough to have me considering dipping some more tentative toes into the pool of 'progressive metal' acts.

3.5 realy

Wolfspring, the side project of french prog rock band Nemo guitarist and vocalist Jean-Pierre Louveton, is a young band delivering some intristing progressive rock arrangements with a metal touch. The music offerd by Wolfspring is from progressive metal , just check out the instrumental Carpathian Wolves, not far from Metallica fame in manner of riffing, to a more ethereal lanscapes. The album overall has some magnific musicianship, and pieces are enough long to capture the attentian of any progressive rock fan and progressive metal aswell. In places is quite similar with Nemo, but a little less complex and the keybords are used here only sporadic only for the atmosphere, but never the less good. So, a pleasent surprise for me this band that for sure needs attentian in the future.3.5 for sure.

The French band WOLFSPRING was formed in 2009, initially as a creative vehicle for Jean-Pierre Louveton, also known as a member of Nemo. Fellow bandmate Fontaine decided to join in as well, adding his creative and musical capabilities, with metal drummer Moro-Sibilot and vocalist Clemens taking on the remaining musical duties for this venture. Their self-titled debut album was released in the summer of 2010 by Progrock Records.

Those who generally find heavy art-rock as well as progressive metal to be interesting will most likely enjoy the musical universe WolfSpring has made a first go at exploring with this disc. The emphasis on strong atmospheres and distinct moods over technical virtuosity and challenging compositional features should appeal to those who enjoy listening to bands like the aforementioned Presto Ballet, and I'd hazard a guess that followers of Porcupine Tree might also find WolfSpring to be an interesting acquaintance.