Who needs coffee and energy drinks when WOLFBRIGADE is around? Hell, who needs cocaine?! This long running Swedish band is bone-breaking speed and power in concentrated music form. I was kinda shocked when I found out their new album would be on Metal Blade. I’m glad they’re on one of the bigger metal labels, but for a band with deep roots in the crusty Swedish punk scene, it’s a strange fit.
Strange or no, they haven’t toned down one iota for this record. The press compares them to DISCHARGE, MOTÖRHEAD and old ENTOMBED, and that really hits the nail smack on the head. They have that Swedish chainsaw sound that ENTOMBED pioneered, there’s definitely the punky d-beat edge of DISCHARGE and there’s a raw rock and roll touch courtesy of MOTÖRHEAD. That’s about all you need to know about Life Knife Death. And they do justice to that mixture completely.
Here are 12 hard-charging tunes, the longest of which is ‘Nail Bomb’ coming in at an epic 3:23. And WOLFBRIGADE cleverly put just enough distinctiveness into each track to avoid boredom. A good example of that is the uber-catchy ‘Skinchanger’, where the punk background is most noticeable. But for me, it’s the utterly crushing ‘Unruled And Unnamed’ that disintegrates my skeletal structure. ‘Ways To Die’ and ‘Mayhem Mongrel’ are also special favorites. Lots of great “rocking” solos pop up throughout, too, as opposed to a more metallic sound. The only ringer here is ‘Age Of Skull Fuckery’, which is a brief sound collage.
They know what they are, they know what they want to do, and they do it well. Being on Metal Blade should put WOLFBRIGADE at the very top of the d-beat punkmetal heap with Life Knife Death!
Review By: Dr. Abner Mality
WOLFBRIGADE
Life Knife Death
Metal Blade Records