LONEWOLF - "RAISED ON METAL" (2017)

LONEWOLF - "RAISED ON METAL"
(Running time: 46:32 minutes; 12 songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2017; CD):

Okay, next round is already coming up, yes, a late night post and surely pretty much one of the final posts for/of this very year that's about to pass us finally by in a couple of days or sort of so, yes, and so, definitely, be prepared for at least ten to twelve (new) record-reviews on 2017 releases to still come up in january of 2018, for sure, and so now straight onward into this very record-review here (and now) that will be all about the brandnew full-length-album of/by the veteran French Heavy Metal powerhouse LONEWOLF that carries the name of "RAISED ON METAL" and was released at the 22nd of september of 2017 via the german veteran label of "MASSACRE RECORDS". So, okay, tell me what do the bandname and the recordtitle say to you? Or better: Scream at you? Right: Metal! Heavy Metal! And an incredible powerful and smashing, rousing and hymnal Heavy Metal LONEWOLF hammer into our ears with strong teutonic influences and there I simply must (...have to...) name the almighty and larger than life RUNNING WILD and the ever-strong-and-great-going GRAVE DIGGER as strong influences (or so it seems) of LONEWOLF and so the impression is maybe right'n'correct that they have taken their bandname from the old glorious RUNNING WILD hymn of the same name. Anyhow... it's late and with all the record-reviews I've done so far this very month... I'm sort of overworked record-reviews-wise currently... damn it... and so I'll try to keep this very one here and now pretty short (at least for my standards), yes, and so enough of the introducing smalltalk and finally straight into the action one more time again up here: This is sheer fantastic and overwhelming forceful and just totally real Heavy Metal of the highest quality-grade that's marching unbowed and proud and strong to war and into battle filled with no prisoners taking energy and outbursting power, conquering with stomping and nicely varying rhythms and smart arrangements of the verses as well as the refrains and also with a strong and diverse pace work and no matter if in fast raging pace or smashing up tempo songs or devastating marching loud'n'proud mid pace anthems LONEWOLF deliver it all and they conquer with it all and this also even more because, yes, the whole album is interwoven by/with a tight and strong atmosphere and the intensity is all the time very, very high. The biggest marking element is without a doubt the outstanding guitar work that delivers killerriffs without end and shines with a full force rhythm work as well as and especially with the singing and shining leads and the amazing solos, yes, this is pure platinum and also damn high skilled. Then there are the harsh and still melodic sung slightly throaty and very 'full' vocals that in their delivery only add up to  the immense hymnal character and potential of the songs on "RAISED ON METAL". The thundering rhythm section then backs it all finally up with adding tons of beefy and bulky quality meat to the bones of LONEWOLF's "RAISED ON METAL", yes, and this for all the damn right reasons. And also, only to point this out a bit more precise, all is very hymnal and anthemic and catchy without being 'poppy' and without becoming lame or stale, yes, so just that you know that. Absolutely first class and very rousing songwriting we get as well and all is delivered by high skilled musicians that exactly know what they do and have to do. Great battle-scarred Metal lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a loud and heavy production sound then round it all up in the way of a perfect match. Surely here's nothing anyhow 'invented new' but who cares as long as it is all delivered in such an absoultely first class way like here by LONEWOLF on their "RAISED ON METAL" titled greatness set to Heavy Metal music and due to the sheer heavyness and highly sinister-atmospeheric intensity while still all the time being incredible strongly rousing and hymnal and also due to the very rough vocals LONEWOLF own also a lot of an own strong and very charismatic identity, yes, and this also for all the right reasons (so to say). My personal favorites are "UNLEASH THE WOLF", "SOULS OF BLACK", "THROUGH FIRE, ICE AND BLOOD", "RAISED ON METAL", "FLIGHT 19", "NO GOD, NO MASTER", "DARK WORLD ORDER", and the two bonus songs (I have the limited version that's offering two bonus songs) "SWANSONG" and "DEMON'S CALL", yes, but don't make the mistake of thinking the (anyhow only few) not mentioned songs would be anyhow 'weak shitty stuff' or so because hell no definitely not. This is a through and through great album and maybe just cut "EVIL" (but just maybe...) and give the bass a little bit more room in the production sound and it would get an even better rating up here by me but also so this is an damn impressive and amazing and just totally great album that you simply need to have when you're a Heavy Metal fan, point and fact.

(9 of 10 points)

http://www.wolfdivision.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

LONEWOLF - "THROUGH FIRE, ICE AND BLOOD" (2017, "RAISED ON METAL")