Deadlock
Wolves
Lifeforce



The second album of this German sextet is remarkable mostly in that the female singer has eschewed the typically epic, morose or angelic approaches of other women in metal. Instead, 'Wolves' is brimming with outrageously poppy vocals and sugar-sweet choruses along with its chugging riffs and metalcore breakdowns. The grand atmospheres of the symphonic and orchestral interludes are completely undone by these glaringly out-of-place squeakings. Anyone interested in Hilary Duff meets Soilwork or In Flames... I'm not only sickened by your tastes, I also expect this could well be the abomination you've been waiting for.

Unfortunately, I couldn't resist hearing this trainwreck completely unfold and was also affronted by the disco-esque electronic interlude in End Begins and To Where The Skies Are Blue, a soft piano track with the vocalist doing her best Vanessa Carlton impression (or something... I'm no expert). There really is all manner of evil squeezed into this poor little disc. The best song, in my opinion, is the blissfully short instrumental PrŠludium II.

I'll reluctantly credit the band with putting together some good riffs and a solid, heavy sound but even so, the majority of the male vocals are an annoyingly wheezy and nu-metal sounding death growl which, coupled with the aforementioned female vocals, works to destroy any appeal that may have arisen. A novel idea, but I really have had enough of these poorly executed and often infuriatingly dismal attempts at being different, experimental or whatever. The incorporation of several styles and genres only means this album will insult more people of a greater variety. Versucht's bitte mal wieder!

Mike Cross