Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


To Speak Of Wolves, Myself < Letting Go
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

To Speak Of Wolves
Myself < Letting Go



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 33 minutes, 42 seconds
Street Date: May 18, 2010


The widespread success of Christian metal is surprising to say the least. Considering the Christian community`s general reaction to metal in its inception, I doubt anyone will say they saw it coming. At any rate, a vast majority of bands at the forefront have sprung from the versatile Solid State Records. Supplying the likes of Demon Hunter, Gwen Stacy, and The Chariot, the label has always kept a varied roster. There`s something for everyone. Whether you call all of it metal or not, any fan of loud music will find something they enjoy. Filling in the cracks of all metal sub-genres seems to be their latest quest, having recently signed As They Sleep and To Speak of Wolves to expand their range yet further. But for now, we can focus on the former Greensboro, North Carolina group, and their debut full-length release Myself < Letting Go.

The catchy chorus that opens "Darkness Often Yields the Brightest Light" very quickly gets me excited for a fun album. And that's just what Myself < Letting Go is. It's a fun album that is built on obvious characteristics from bands like Underoath and Saosin, but it warps them with new colours that make an enjoyable experience. The first big compliment to give is how well the music is all mixed. Nothing is too loud; nothing is dominated by a louder instrument. To start, there's a very crisp scream over low, chord-dominant guitar, but in the chorus, one of the guitarists takes the role of melodic stringsman. Then the noise subsides for an early bridge of silky singing and slides effectively into another hammerdown. TSoW seems to know something about how to transition neatly. Instead of dropping into a clean section immediately after a heavy crunch, they take baby steps from Sound A to Sound B.

The thing with TSoW is the trouble of pinpointing where to place their sound. It's easy enough to call them metal, but they do things a little differently. The style they're playing is nothing new; plenty of bands have done it before, but each little piece is played slightly off kilter. The guitars are a no brainer: low growling riffs and ugly chords. But then the ugly chords are strangely melodic, though this is comparable to Underoath. Fine. But the drums don't match. There are no breakdowns or blast beats, and the tempo never gets much faster than the occasional jump on the second kick pedal. It's not just a matter of an unskilled drummer though. Phil Chamberlain conjures a lot of lightly oddly-timed or unconventional beats that make up for the speed and power of a general metal drummer.

Moving on to Rick Jacobs, an exceptional vocalist, providing what is easily the piece of TSoW that most differs them from other similar projects. He is responsible for all of the vocals on the album, which frankly baffles me. The clean vocals in nearly every track sound as if they came from a different person than the last. So he has a fine clean vocal range, which is strange since his screams are fairly limited, but the best part is how he uses it. It's easy to predict a melodic singing section coming, however, the melody always comes out much differently than is expected, causing an almost ghostly impression that catches you off guard. The choruses of "You Should Have Locked Your Doors Days Ago" and "Dimming the Light" are marvelous examples of this. The heavy areas of their music aren't all that unheard of. It's the unorthodox melodic tones in the mild areas that set them apart. Yet at the same time, if you took out the metal, the music would not survive. The two must be together to complement each other so effectively.

"White Dress, Red Letter" comes out as a very interesting track. It opens up a little typically with an overused drum fill, but once the chorus swings around, I felt a quiver in my spine. And the piano added near the end is quite haunting. The eerie melodies they piece together aren't all their own, but are nevertheless difficult to write well. Myself < Letting Go is by no means a bright album, but there is confidence in the music. "Quercus Alba" is the oddball of the album. The first half of the track hosts an old ragtime vocal ensemble featuring Underoath front man Spencer Chamberlain (brother to drummer Phil Chamberlain) that honestly sounds like something Jonezetta or Showbread would come up with. It could say a lot about future experiments the band may attempt in their music.

To Speak of Wolves is a band that spreads out their deepest emotions in their music. They play the kind of music that can be enjoyed more than most, unspoiled by ulterior ambitions. While it`s no magical formula for a brand new metal style (which will likely never be found), To Speak of Wolves certainly carries a flavour that Solid State didn't previously offer. And just as a band in the midst of all others similar to it, it`s fairly original to its kind. Fans of Underoath, Saosin or Burden of a Day should agree with Myself < Letting Go, but if you want specifics, then anyone digging Destroy the Runner`s I, Lucifer should appreciate TSoW even more. It may be an acquired taste, though I encourage multiple listens before final judgment is called.

- Review date: 5/16/10, written by Wayne Reimer of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: Solid State Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 33 minutes, 42 seconds
. Street Date: May 18, 2010
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Darkness Often Yields The Brightest Light (3:38)
  2. You Should Have Locked Your Doors Days Ago (3:26)
  3. Trust, But Verify (3:10)
  4. Dimming The Light (3:08)
  5. White Dress, Red Letter (3:13)
  6. Just One Time (3:09)
  7. In The Midst Of The City (3:32)
  8. Quercus Alba (3:52)
  9. Your Cage May Not Have Bars, But It's Still A Cage (3:30)
  10. Nothing Ever Ends (3:44)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images