AFM Records
Wolfpakk are Michael Voss of Mad Max fame and Mark Sweeney of Swiss band Crystal Ball plus a host of guest stars. This follow up to 2011’s self-titled debut features the talents of Amanda Somerville, Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell), Blaze Bayley (Wolfsbane), Kee Marcello (Europe), Roland Grapow (Masterplan), Don Airey (Deep Purple), Tony Carey (Rainbow) and Hermann Rarebell (Scorpions) amongst others…
The music is generally what I would class as Melodic Metal…but that is a rather large umbrella to be classed under! The songs are split between the more atmospheric Helloween/Avantasia type numbers and then the more straight forward Scorpions/Saxon rockers. We also have an alternative split of subject if you like with about fifty percent of the songs being “wolf” related.
Moonlight kicks things off in superb fashion with a wolf tale back by typical Teutonic metal. A Matter of Time keeps things ticking with its Judas Priest riffing (is that a Turbo influence I can hear…).
The only real change of pace on the album is the big ballad Cold Winter featuring the amazing Amanda “symphonic metal vocal coach extraordinaire” Somerville. Vocal duty is split between Amanda, Michael Voss and Mark Sweeney – check out the wolf related video on YouTube. Speaking of videos, Wolfpakk have also released a video for the rockier Dark Revelation…moral of the story don’t leave your black magic practising girlfriend at home whilst you go down the local bar for a few pints with your mate…you will regret it!
Wakken is another straight forward rocker, presumably written in tribute to the Wacken Open Air Festival held in Germany each year, hitting the spot with its “Metal Attack!” vocal refrain.
Lone cover version is Rainbow’s classic Run with the Wolf and obviously features guest Tony Carey on keyboards. Epic closer Cry Wolf cannot be faulted from its acoustic, piano, rain and Native American introduction through to the epic conclusion.
The bonus track Kid Raw adds nothing to the album…apart from an extra 3.55 to the running time…
If you’re a fan of German melodic metal then this is highly recommended…if not then open your ears and give it a try. AFM seem to be releasing some high quality product of late…keep it up.
****
Review by Phil Berisford
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025
SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)
Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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