ForeignWolf
Merely Mortal (EP)
Independent Release
Perhaps the best thing about an EP is that it tends to focus a band and condense their work into its purest, undiluted form. Unlike a full album, there’s no time to waste on fancy preambles or introductions, meaning a band is keen to get straight down to business and show off their wares. That’s certainly the case with Belfast-based quartet ForeignWolf, their latest effort Merely Mortal being a four track affair that overflows with goodness and makes a perfect calling card for those new to the band, whilst those already hip to their charms will find ForeignWolf continuing upwards on their creative curve. Coming heavily laden with riffage, opening track ‘Tyrant’ sets a dangerous precedent; hard, yet melodic, it’s propelled forwards by a tight rhythm section, then topped with caustic vocals, and is pretty much everything you’d ever want from a modern metal record and draws favourable comparisons with the likes of Deftones and Alter Bridge. ForeignWolf are a versatile beast with ‘Hollow’ inserting plenty of white space to create a wide and expansive affair, before ‘Imposter Syndrome’ slows down to a crawl and crushes the listener with steamroller pressure. An EP not of an age, but for all time, Merely Mortal should afford ForeignWolf immortality.
https://www.facebook.com/ForeignWolfni
Review by Peter Dennis.