Powerwolf
Lupus Dei (15th Anniversary Edition)
Metal Blade
Perhaps it’s because Powerwolf never pandered to fads or trends, but their sophomore album Lupus Dei (originally released in 2007) still sounds fresh and exciting. Now celebrating its crystal anniversary, it gets a loving reissue with a bonus disc of demos, and updated artwork. A fully fledged concept album concerning a werewolf’s descent into evil, and ultimate redemption, Lupus Dei has a cinematic quality which would make the perfect soundtrack to an uber cool horror film. A brief intro sets a rather unsettling scene before the symphonic ‘We Take It From The Living’ bursts into life with classical guitar lines and thunderous drums swirling around Attila Dorn’s operatic vocals. From here on, Powerwolf deliver a masterclass in power metal with ‘Behind The Leathermask’ revealing some nifty guitar work that alternates between razor sharp riffs and gnarly solos, and ‘Vampires Don’t Die’ having a particularly nasty bite. Pulling all the album’s strands together, the final track makes for a grandiose conclusion…and it’s one that has a nice surprise in store. If you’re yet to discover the delights of Lupus Dei (shame on you) then this timely reissue is a great place to start, while those already in the know will find delight in the bonus material.
Review by Peter Dennis