Being a lifelong resident of America’s third largest metropolis (Chicago, Illinois), it’s a cultural norm to make fun of our neighbors to the east in Indiana. Spend a couple hours shooting the breeze here and you’d be under the impression that the state next door is comprised of an entirely different species of people altogether. And while there may be some truth to this (I kid), that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to get their heavy on. Take Lavaborne and Wraith, for example. Both bands are absolutely killing it, bringing pride to their home state and musical scenes (power doom and blackened thrash respectively). Today’s review showcases yet another Indianan band worthy of your attention, Wolftooth.
In the 4 years since Wolftooth formed, they’ve sure climbed the hierarchal metal ladder. Their self titled debut was released independently in 2018. Their 2020 follow up, Valhalla, was released via premiere stoner metal label, Ripple Music. This brings us to their third and latest album, Blood & Iron, which sees the band signed to international metal juggernaut, Napalm Records. A band who’s generated this much hype this fast must have a lot going on musically, right? Right.
There is a lot to unpack when exploring Blood & Iron, so much so that I feel this is a tale of two albums. Each one is rooted in doom metal, but radically different. The first is a valiant collection of power doom hymns, forged in the fire of Mob Rules era Sabbath darkness, Manilla Road vigor, and Slough Feg tenacity. Cuts like the thrashy “Broken Sword” and bone crunching “Garden of Hesperides” boast epic song structures and fantastical lyrics more characteristic of power metal. However, the riffs stay true to the doom metal spirit: thick, towering, and occasionally bordering on stoner territory (i.e. “Ahab”).
On the other side of the spectrum is a collection of hook heavy, radio ready rockers that lie somewhere between Trouble’s 1990 self titled and Metallica’s Black Album (1991). Again, doom lies at the foundation of the sound, but is utilized in a much different approach. There’s a welcoming familiarity to the melodic traditionalism of “The Voyage” and Zeppelin meets Sabbath groove of “Winter White”. Other songs touch on these facets as well, but perhaps none strong than the album’s closing track, “The Mare”: a muscular hard rocker dripping with retro romanticism. If I were Napalm’s A&R guy, I’d send this to every active rock radio station in the country for airplay.
Despite its strong moments, Blood & Iron would be even stronger as a whole if it focused solely on one of these approaches or the other. That said, I seldom come across doom metal albums which grab my attention. Blood & Iron does, and from multiple directions. Whether you’re a bearded doom aficionado, Dungeons & Dragons playing power metal geek, or just a run of the mill rock n’ roller, Wolftooth offers something for everyone. Don’t underestimate their bite!
6 out of 10
Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Doom Metal
For fans of: Black Sabbath, The Sword, Lavaborne
There’s more than corn in Indiana!