Album review: Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things

By DAN SOUTHALL

WITH two albums and an EP under their belts, Alpha Wolf have reached the critical third album: the one that was once a marker for a band and their longevity in the music ‘business’.  Of course this metric isn’t as important as it once was but for a band from Australia it still feels like a relevant measurement, as it can be so difficult to break the constraints of our continent and have the success they have already achieved, let alone reaching further.

Wasting no time getting heavy, “Bring Back the Noise” shows they realise exactly what this album can mean for their career and they set about correcting attitudes and convincing the naysayers they belong where they are. By the time the band hit third track, Haunter”, there is a noticeable nu-metal undercurrent which has begun to creep in. Dick-swinging lyrics and heavy grooves weave amongst the band’s destructive riffs.

This brings us smack bang to the angsty and juvenile nu-metal title of “Sucks 2 Suck”; it is way better than one might expect with extra cred via Ice T, an artist known for happily ruffling feathers no matter the genre he chooses to haunt. The track is still heavy and modern enough that the nu- elements may only be so prominent because I lived through the original era, and despite its detractors it wasn’t all bad.  The best of that bunch have managed to survive for 30 years at this point.

Still the cocksure bravado and lyrical ignorance continues through the middle of the album and ratchets up a few more notches – “Pretty Boy”, I am judging you at this point. It is heavy and groovy, but someone’s angsty teenager wrote the lyrical drivel that is spewed forth. Unfortunately, this technique continues long enough that I managed to lose a couple of tracks. No matter how many spins I had, the mid-album sag is one of tracks melding together with only breakdowns to separate their insignificant differences. It isn’t until “Feign” that things change up again, with more pointed aggression and direction.  This is the kind of world-beating metal the world needs to hear from Alpha Wolf.  And just to prove, it they round the album out with their heaviest and most experimental sounds.

The closing 1-2 of the title track and “Ambivalence” play off each other like so many other musical experiments attempt and can’t pull off.  The album closer ignores the earlier swagger of the album for heart wrenching lyrics and music that allows everyone in the band to show off their talent.  This is what I came here for, metalcore perfection.

As I mentioned earlier, I was there the first time nu-metal ruled the world – and it wasn’t all bad. But the braggadocio, dick swinging elements of it were never my thing, and whilst I understand it sells albums again in this nu-era (see what I did there), it just feels unnecessary when the opening and closing of the album is taken in without the cheesier elements on display. There is true greatness on the horizon for another Aussie band.

Buy Half Living Things on CD and vinyl