Wolfbrigade
Comalive
Farewell Records/Deranged Records
Wolfbrigade continues their d-beat odyssey with a record so intense that it will definitely convince those who still cling to the band's much idolized Wolfpack era to reconsider the result of their transformation. Although, "transformation" might be a strong word for explaining the band's musical reconfiguration which became increasingly apparent in "In darkness you feel no regrets" and "A d-beat odyssey", it is at least useful to understand why some diehard fans were highly disappointed with the post-2000 records of the Wolves. "Comalive", released only a year after the band's somewhat mediocre reunion album "Prey to the world", brilliantly combines the blistering speed and ferocity of the Wolfpack years with the terrific melodic precision of the new era. Contrary to the previous Wolfbrigade outputs which were dominantly composed of mid-tempo d-beat songs ("Progression/Regression" may be considered as an exception to this aspect), "Comalive" is remarkably faster and has a strikingly powerful production. The band retains its characteristic cold, metallic edge and the quality production adds up to the record being the band's strongest release since "Allday hell". From the blazing opener "In adrenaline" to anthemic "Skulls of doom" and rifftastic "Barren dreams", "Comalive" irrefutably proves that Wolfbrigade is still as good as they used to be ten years ago.
- Burak Tansel
