Death Wolf - IV: Come the Dark (2019)

Unleashing elevent anthems of Horror Punk fare, today we have Sweden’s Death Wolf and their latest opus “IV: Come the Dark”. Featuring Morgan Håkansson of Marduk fame on bass guitar, this outfit delivers superbly catchy and yet creepy songs that are both memorable and highly entertaining. While The Vision Bleak comes to mind as a comparison, this band features a more barebones and direct sound that will pummel your eardrums.

The ripping guitars of “He Who Hates” perfectly set the mood for a high-octane release filled with catchines and intensity. Valentin Mellströ’s vocals are perfectly suited to lead a barrage of punishing guitars and intense bass guitar lines, thanks to the crystal clear production the vocals are very prevalent. With playful tempo changes and hefty atmospherics, the band pummels through tracks like “Edge of the Wood”, “Empower the Flame” and the headbanging fest “The Sword”, a song that sets a very epic vibe from the first note.

For those looking for more emotionally charged tracks, “Funeral Pyre”, “Into the Woods” and “The Executioner's Song” are an excellent example of the band’s ability to change the pace of things. With a hefty amount of traditional Heavy Metal influences coursing through Death Wolf’s venis, all tracks have a very epic and raw vibe to them, particularly the intense “Speak Through Fire”. With most songs clocking around 3 minutes, this album dishes them out faster than the listener can breathe some air, creating a very intense and relentless experience.

Closing with the mystical “Conquerors Dance”, the band decides to let the listener go with a darker and more mellow track. Overall, “IV: Come the Dark” is quite a release filled with catchy tracks that are very engaging and powerful. Death Wolf’s strength comes from keeping things simple and crafting songs that are memorable and superbly enjoyable. If you are in for a roller coaster experience of the Horror Punk/Metal kind, be sure to get a copy of this solid release.

Label: Blooddawn Productions

Release: December 10th, 2019

Genre: Horror Punk/Metal

Country: Sweden