Powerwolf
Interludium – Napalm Records
Born from the same era that spawned Sabaton and Bloodhound, German power metal band Powerwolf celebrate their twentieth anniversary in the best fashion, with a compilation album, Interludium. Featuring four rarities and six new cuts, it’s one of the latter that kicks things off, and ‘Wolves Of War’ is a rabble-rousing affair that finds the band on their haunches and ready to attack. Full of soaring guitars and gang vocals, it would make the perfect soundtrack to a Viking rampage, you can almost see the swords held high, and it sets a dangerous tone for the rest of the album. It’s certainly true that a leopard can’t change its spots, and the same applies to a (Power) wolf and the great thing about this crew is that they give fans exactly what they want, they won’t try to slip a ballad under the radar, and Interludium delivers what’s expected, and in spades. Some might find their tight lyrical focus a tad generic, but it gives their albums a concept feel, and this effort is no exception. From start to finish it’s an unbridled celebration of metal and, twenty years strong, proves this band are still hungry (like the wolf).
Review by Peter Dennis