Wolfmother - 'Wolfmother' (Modular) Released 24/04/06

The true spirit of Rock ’n ’Roll has been captured by many bands over the ages, and claimed to have been tamed by many more. With its true roots solidified in the ghosts of The Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, The Who and Black Sabbath to name a few. No band has since been able to evoke the feelings of true mind altering rock. The few who claim they have it failed to stand the test of time, Jet weren’t ready for it, The Vines grasped it, The White Stripes don’t know what to do with it. Wolfmother however, are the embodiment of it. Hailing from Australia, Wolfmother have come from the blind side of the world, as the continent seems to be ignored far too often. Their self titled debut LP refuses to be ignored. From the moment the epic ‘Colossal’ first rings out as those drums punch through the air, something special happens. What has been missing in the music industry suddenly is found…Life. Life without pretentiousness and marketing and haircuts. Life in a wall of sound.

Wolfmother have created a guitar driven riffarama of an album that will set the bar higher for guitar based bands for ever. Their sound is simple yet it constantly evolves, it is proggy yet ultimately catchy, it is psychedelic with the most lethal of hooks and best of all never self indulgent. There are songs that feel as if they will collapse under their own weight and sheer chaotic sound yet they will change direction at the drop of a hat and pull you down deeper into their astral plane. ‘White Unicorn’ has one of the hardest riffs since Zeppelin and some of the most surreal lyrics to boot, whereas the utterly fantastic ‘Pyramid’ gives a bow to Black Sabbath and has one of the coolest riffs that this writer has ever heard. Although not trying to emulate, but merely pay homage to their heroes Wolfmother wear their influences on their sleeve, yet have a sound of their own that has an immediacy to it that makes all their songs instantly likeable that stays fresh 50th time round.

With ‘Mind’s Eye’ surfing the airwaves in Australia as one of the most requested songs, it is not hard to see their appeal, as it has a classic Floyd sound but is not forced in any way and instantly takes the listener to another world, lulling you in with it’s innocent vocals and then breaking you with its guitars only to build you up again with its triumphant keyboards. They have a created a masterpiece that will go down as one of the most accomplished and enjoyable albums to date as hit after hit reveals itself. It doesn’t stop. ‘Joker & the Thief’ pushes a piercing guitar riff as far as it can go and a little further, yet never becomes annoying. Frontman Andrew Stockdale’s vocals are second to none, yet haven’t even reached their peak and could only be rivalled by that of contemporary Robert Harvey, Ross’ keyboard work is truly breathtaking yet never over indulged and Heskett’s drums punch right through to the core and are never there just to fill space. As young as they are this band will blow away any older competitors as they always have something up their sleeve, whether it be acoustic tracks with a space rock edge like ‘Vagabond’ or frantic all out jamming in the form of ‘Apple Tree’ they can’t be held down.

Even if they were never to make another album again, Wolfmother will be remembered as one of the greatest bands to pierce Australian airwaves. Sure they pay their respects heavily to bands of old, but they have their own vision. Forget the influences and enjoy the trip.