Post-Hardcore band, Wolves At The Gate are preparing to release their sophomore album titled, VxV (pronounced five by five) on June 10th. My thoughts? This album WILL be a contender for album of the year.
From the first listen I was hooked and have had the album on repeat ever since. Every song has something to offer. The entire album is so powerful and catchy.
The intro track “VxV” is a loop of voices whispering “five by five” while a voice speaks passionately about Jesus dying for our sins. It’s evident throughout the album that the guys in Wolves At The Gate are devout Christians and have put their passion into their music. Regardless of your beliefs, the energy and intensity that go into every song make them worth a listen.
The album quickly picks up the pace when it breaks into track 2, “Wake Up.” There is so much going on in this exhilarating track that it is literally hard to sit still while listening to it. Captivating from that initial scream, it’s difficult to believe that the album could get any better… but it does.
If I had to pick a favorite track off of the album it would either be track 3, “Return”, or 4, “Dust to Dust.” One of the many aspects that I love about VxV is the steady aggression even in the most melodic of parts. Even the soaring vocals are at the same time raw and emotional, which is the case throughout the entire album, but especially in these two songs.
Tracks 5 through 8 delve deeper into the melodic side without abandoning that pure passion and aggression that is established in the first few tracks.
Tracks 9, 10, and 11 pick up the pace again with driving rhythms for a few more power tracks right before the epic finale to an amazing album.
The last song, “The Father’s Bargain,” is the most melodic on VxV. The emotional vocals laid over the serene instrumentation is absolutely beautiful. In case that sounds too light for you, there are highly intense breaks throughout the track. One thing I love about this song is that it’s structured like the album in its entirety, switching abruptly from calm and beautiful to aggressive and powerful.
VxV is structured perfectly in waves of aggression and melody. Not only one of my favorite albums of the year, but one of my favorite albums of all time. You need this in your life.
Rating: 9.8/10
For fans of Fit For A King, Unearth, A Skylit Drive
You can keep up with the band via their facebook page or their website.
