POWERWOLF – Wake up the Wicked (2024)

POWERWOLF remain very loyal to their discographical appointment, as “Wake up the wicked” is the 6th consecutive LP that releases in July! I don’t believe introductions are needed, so let’s go straight to the point by setting some foundations for this review. The Wolves follow some specific rules for composing music which will not change. They have a status to maintain, so risky moves like creating longer songs or more complex, will not happen soon. As such, it is more fair to review the record based on how they managed to perfect their known formula this time and cast personal wishes and expectations on the bench. 

“Wake up the wicked” comes with 11 songs of a total duration that stops at 36 minutes, which sets a new record in terms of their shortest album. For once I liked that, because I did manage to reach the end every time I pressed play (there is not always time for that in one sitting unfortunately) and I am not a fan of artists adding content just for the sake of it. In theory we have quality over quantity.

There is no argument that we have POWERWOLF being themselves, but I noticed a slight shift in the direction of the music. It is more direct, fast and aggressive, becoming a treat for the fans of the band’s earlier period. ‘Thunderpriest’, the title track and ‘Bless them with the blade’ are perfect examples of this. Of course there is no lack of catchy choruses, as ALL tracks can pass as a hit and all of them are candidates for a place in future concerts. I can say that as a whole, it is an improvement over “Call of the wild” because it has a better flow and does not sacrifice momentum at all. While the previous had a stronger first half, here we have the perfect example of a balanced record. 

If we look at this new work isolated from the rest of the discography, it is a great entry. You are a POWERWOLF fan, you decide to listen to it in the format of your choice, it is guaranteed that you will enjoy it. If you listen to any of the tracks live, that will also be the case. In the end you shouldn’t pour much thinking into it because its purpose is to generate enjoyment, so the target is achieved. Reviewing though, means that we must dig a little deeper and that is where some glaring issues are unearthed. 

It is perhaps the first time that I find the band somewhat disoriented. I feel they are trapped by their fame into repeating the same thing every two or three years and now the first signs of tiredness start to show. Let’s see the following choruses: ‘Joan of Arc’ is ‘Sainted by the storm’, ‘Bless them with the blade’ immediately reminded me of ‘All you can bleed’ and I knew ‘Wake up the wicked’ resembled something, with ‘Sacramental Sister’ arriving to solve the riddle. 

There is also not a standout song that will be memorized for the years to come. There is no ‘Werewolves of Armenia’ or ‘Armata Strigoi’ for example. To be fair I saw great ideas here and there. ‘Heretic hunters’ have one of the best transitions from verse to chorus, ‘1589’ nails its atmosphere with the backing choirs and ‘We don’t wanna be no saints’ also killed it during the pre-chorus and had a great symphonic bridge. It is a lost opportunity to have many great ideas only for them to go as fast as they come just to maintain the songs under four minutes. 

In the end I view “Wake up the wicked” as a double edged sword. The casual fan in me loves it and believe me, I will sing my lungs out during those songs at a concert. Zooming out, I see a band that is considered to be among the leading forces of an entire genre, falling short. Being a juggernaut during live shows is one thing. If I am to consider an artist as the best of them all, I will surely need much more from a new studio work. One trip is not enough to ruin my love for this group of course, but the fact is the same. For the first time in a POWERWOLF album, the reviewer in me sees an effort to wrap things up before they even start either due to lack of creative ideas, or to force checking the industry’s boxes. 

68/100

Pavlos Pavlakis