Wolfshirt – Wolfshirt (2021)
There are times when you just need an EP that is packed with some hardcore vibes that swing from metal to punk-rock, taking you through everything in between. Fortunately, this is exactly what Wolfshirt brought with their self-titled EP which introduced their sound to our ears. A blast of post-hardcore energy, the EP is a decadent fusion of body, mind and soul that you are unlikely to forget any time soon.
Packed with a rather magical experience, the tracks of the EP are powerful in their heavy movement as they wonderfully showcase the best elements of different heavy styles. This energy comes directly from the musical talents of Nick Coggins, Brandon Thurlow, Nick Villaci and Nick Minini who came together for this band through divine synchronicity. Merging punk and hardcore into a blistering infectious sound, they are a band to definitely keep your eyes and ears on.
The EP opens with ‘Wake’ and its guitars that grab your hands and pull you into the melodic movement of the single. There is a touch of darkness to this track that contrasts a strange sense of awakening that has been woven into the low levels of the track. A light crash of instrumentation comes through as the drums enter, mimicking the sound of waves hitting a cliff. The vocals cry out with a heavy rock feeling that edges toward punk. The darkness of the melody continues to swirl beneath the vocals as they bring a churn of emotion to the track. It is a fantastic interplay between the two lines that offer a depth to the sound. Later in the track, the swirl of the melody lessens and starts to turn with a vibration of sound rising into the air. The echoes of the vocals add to this changing feeling, creating a completely new edge to the track, while retaining that darkness that initially drew you in.
‘Dive’ has a more expansive feeling to the opening guitars as they seem to reach out toward foggy horizons while beckoning you to follow. You have no choice but to give in to their siren call while the drums lightly shove at your back to get you moving toward the vocals. The screaming touch of the vocals rips something out of your soul and tosses it into the world. It is an intense movement that has this heavy punctuation brought by the punch of the vocals. The light touch of the cymbals brings a strange feeling to the melody as you expect a brighter edge, but they only add to the emotions already churning through the track. The hard rock strum of guitars that hit midway through the track pound into your chest before the vocals grab hold of your senses and take you to some rather dizzying heights. It is an extremely intense single that leaves you feeling rather emotionally drained.
While there is a touch of darkness in the opening of ‘Slice’, this has been tempered with a slightly lighter feeling through the melodic movement of the guitars. There is something in the melody that tickles the back of your brain, but in the best possible way. The hit of the drums starts to move your head to its rhythm, before the vocals grab you and shake you up. There is a slight soaring feeling to the vocals like they are taking you on a trip far away from the reality of your world. This feeling is a little at odds with the lyrics of the track. Overall, there is a fantastic post-punk sense to this track that makes you want to blare it at top volume. As with the other tracks, there is a change midway through as the push of the instrumentation lightens for a delicate turn which is matched by the vocals. The shout of aggression that filled the first half turns onto a sliding melodic call that is just as addictive.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Movements’ and the delicate tones of the guitars in the opening. There is a slow build to the melody that has you floating on the waves of the music and relaxing after the rest of the tracks. The soft feeling is given direction by a new guitar line that floats over the middle layer like a ribbon of golden light. This softness starts to build into something heavier as the single progresses and a rock trill hits the guitar line. The vocals complete the transition of the sound as they enter with a shout. There is a touch of anthemic energy to the vocals as they cry out into the soundscape. As the single progresses, the energy of the vocals has you jumping around while the power of the melody soars through your bones. Things drop back to a richer tone halfway through, before building up again.
Wolfshirt bring a blast of hard rock, post-punk and blistering dark energy that swings through our senses in their dynamic self-titled EP Wolfshirt. Each track builds through the first half, only to swing into something new for the second, while retaining the core of its melody. The vocals are passionate as they cry out over the guitar-driven melodies, pulling you further into the sound.
Find out more about Wolfshirt on their Instagram and Spotify.
