Australia’s death-metal upstarts Werewolves channel the zeitgeist of the 21st century with their fourth full-length, My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me. Take in the apocalyptic imagery and try to imagine what lurks within. Gratuitous self-mutilation, friendly discourse between neighbors, a horse, and a guy plugging himself directly into the Hell-Matrix—truly an album cover that screams “everything is fine”. Werewolves, a group boasting members from The Antichrist Imperium (bassist/vocalist Sam, guitarist Matt Wilcock) and Psycroptic (drummer Dave Haley) provoked a mostly enthusiastic response from Kenstrosity just last year. By some sadistic trick of the sump Werewolves’ latest LP was discarded just outside my holding cell. Wondering how a less-than-fully-formed n00b acquired this slab of Aussie death, and fearing an inevitable trap, I slapped on the ol’ over-the-ears and hit play.
Werewolves peddle a style of grinding death metal that is simultaneously simple and maniacally overwhelming. Running at a svelte 34 minutes, the 9 songs contained herein are crafted for maximum impact. The subject matter is bloody, it’s misanthropic, and the music flies at a high enough BPM to ensure cardiac arrest during your deadlift session. The band credits Mortician as an influence, and while I get that in their frequent use of samples and general blood-soaked insanity, I hear more early Exhumed and Cattle Decapitation, the latter, particularly in the drumming department. Guitars unload ceaseless tremolo riffs designed to smash your face parts into the ground, while occasionally coming up for air to land some circle-pit-worthy groove metal reminiscent of Lamb of God (“My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me,” “Bring Me To The Kill”). Sam’s vocal delivery, emphasizing higher barks and eschewing Cookie Monster gutturals, renders lyrics generally discernible amongst the aural assault. The lyrical content, not something often pored over in this genre, works well for me in context. “Death metal till we die, fuck peace” doesn’t exactly land unless it’s wrapped in something appropriately unrestrained. Taken on its own, this three-quarters of a band would constitute a formidable addition to the world of modern death metal.
So much of what makes MELASLM work is wrapped up in the tour-de-force performance of drummer Dave Haley. Haley’s accomplishments with tech-death stalwarts Psycroptic precede him, though his pairing with more straightforward foaming-at-the-mouth death metal may raise some eyebrows for the uninitiated. Quoted as having “…zero fun making this record”—a statement I wholeheartedly believe—Haley’s pitch-perfect performance propels and solidifies every sonic inch of this album. Be it his ability to use mutating rhythms to sell a reoccurring riff (“Under the Ground,” “Do Not Hold Me Back”) or the physicality to handle brutally increasing tempo (“Brace for Impact,” “Neanderhell”), the drums really bring these songs to life. I’m of the opinion that the production puts the kit a little too far forward in the mix, but the playing on this album is nearly flawless. For anyone looking for a drum-forward record à la Hannes Grossman or Jamie Saint Merat, this is essential listening.
The few minor gripes I have with Werewolves’ formula tend to lie in song structure. The opening salvo of “Under the Ground” through “Brace for Impact” creates a general template of blasting caveman riff—crowd-killing breakdown—blasting caveman riff, all at warp speed, all convincing and well executed. But when doom-laden “Destroyer of Worlds” shows how Werewolves can summon up a completely different soundscape, I’m left wondering what other tricks they have up their sleeve as the back half of the album returns to blistering riffs and blasts. Listener fatigue could be an issue here as well, depending on your tolerance for the genre. While most of the tracks are kept in a tight 3-3:30 range, longer cuts like “I Know Nothing Then And Know Less Now” and “Do Not Hold Me Back” could stand to have some repetitive sections trimmed. But the longer I listened to MELASLM I found these issues to be mainly cosmetic, more about missed opportunities than any functional flaws.
My first foray into Werewolves’ brand of death metal has left me utterly apathetic about the world and hungry for more punishment. I’m convinced this band has a potentially electrifying album lurking somewhere in their future. Carving out a corner of metal with ignorant curb stomp riffing, stupendous drumming, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics has gotten them 90% of the way. With a little more attention paid to self-editing and continual pushing of their sonic envelope, I hope to see a truly vicious slice of death metal from these Aussies.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Prosthetic Records
Websites: werewolvesdeathmetal.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/werewolvesinhell
Releases Worldwide: August 11, 2023
