Wolfbrigade - Damned

Wolfbrigade are no newcomers to what they are doing. Their first crust assault struck the planet in 1996 under the name Wolfpack, and since then their output has been steady. As Wolfpack they released two albums, two EPs and two splits. After changing names to Wolfbrigade in 1998, they released four more albums, one more split and one more EP despite having a three year breakup in 2004. And now it’s been four years since 2008’s Comalive and we have Damned.

I keenly await every Wolfbrigade album that comes out. In my opinion, they have never released an album that did not totally kick arse. Damned is no exception. Even though this is slightly more death- or thrash-oriented – not quite as punky as the Wolfpack stuff – it is one of the band’s most cutting and anthemic records so far. I love Wolfbrigade because there is never any fucking around. You always know exactly what to expect, you always expect it to be of excellent quality, and you always get what you expected. And so, as always, D-beats rock almost non-stop, Micke’s vocals are as harsh and angered as ever, and the urge to pump your fist in the air is upon you. Production is more satisfying than ever before, each track a swift stab like an unavoidable shot of adrenaline. If you can’t bang your head to the likes of “Curse of Cain”, “Damned to Madness” or the jaw-dropping “Catch 22” then you are officially a boring cunt. This is the kind of punked up metal your grandma will be screaming the lyrics of with right beside you. Enough said.

In short: Catchy as hell from the moment it begins to the moment it ends, the new Wolfbrigade can only be described as the latest in a line of classics. The fans know what to expect and it’s a fantastic place for newcomers to begin. Let the new crust madness ensue.

Standout tracks: “Curse of Cain”, “Catch 22”, “Damned to Madness”, “Peace of Mind”, “From Beyond”

Score: 9.5