Orchestra of Wolves
Label: Epitaph
Length: LP
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Orchestra of Wolves
What’s not to love about the debut by these tough young lads from Watford, England? Fans of hard music, kneel before your god because he’s decided to bless you. From the full-bore slash of opener ‘Kill the Rhythmâ?� to the bare-knuckled swagger of ‘Orchestra of Wolves,â?� this record fucking rips. This is a hairy, savage breed of hardcore that sweats rock & roll. It’s not just hard, it’s dirty and dangerous too; not to mention more complex in language, with smart touches like agile metal chugging and discordantly technical chord progressions that maintain the tension that post-hardcore types feed on. Gallows isn’t content to just coast on their muscle or brains, though; a pronounced sense of feral melody rounds out the cohesive sound. But more than anything, their music’s got a spirit that’s raw, undiluted and real. The next big thing in punk? Betcher ass.
This article appears in Jul 11-17, 2007.