In these hard times, we live in there is a place for some escapism that is heavy and engaging in a traditional metal way, without the need to be brutal. In Shewolf a new Symphonic Power Metal act from the United Kingdom. This is exactly what you get, in spades. The first track The One you feed opens with a Jethro Tull like flute trill. Something that appears in all of the following tracks of the album and as an avid Tull nut this just gave this album my approval right off the bat. Fronted by Greek singer Angel Wolf Black, Here is where this new venture strides out to the front of the pack (pardon the pun), and declares its difference. Angel has a voice and presence unlike many at this time in metal, just watch the promo videos to see what I mean. Even if you’re not a Power Metal fan you will love the operatic and symphonic vocals that paint with a beautiful and jaw-dropping pallet the windswept tundra and open plains where the wolf plays. The air filled with the scent of the quarry, the sounds of sinew and muscle buried deep in thick fir ready to snap into action at the moment
Forgive this old man a moment of poetic license but music like this really brings it out in me. All the songs on this epic debut album are related to as have you may have now gathered the wolf. An allegory maybe, or just a great way to pin a not so dispirit collection of tunes to one continuous stream of thought. Either way, you slice the pie along with her nameless band members, The Hunter on guitar – The Predator on Bass and The Alpha on Drums Angel has made her mark on the Symphonic Power Metal sub-genre. On a technical note they are not treading new ground nor are they trying to. It does what it says on the tin, a really clean beautifully produced product that is as polished as a Viking shield and as heavy as Thor’s hammer.
So don’t just take my word for it go and grab a copy put it on your stereo (yes Stereo I’m that old) and play it bloody loud. Because this sort of music and a voice like Angel’s dictates that it should be played at volumes that WILL annoy the neighbors and in doing so hopefully educate them.
I give this record 5 out of 5 WHAT A VOICE
Shewolf: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l.
Category: Album
Country: Greece
Reviewed by Tony Evans
