Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Goddamn Wolves is a three-piece ensemble releasing melodic indie rock in the vein of The Replacements and the Pixies. And after listening to their latest releases, “Everything Real Is Free” and “Older, Slower,” I totally hear, understand, and passionately rally behind those comparisons. So, with a one-two punch of simultaneously released singles, let’s determine if this capable band is successfully scaling new creative heights.
Wait. Who does what?
Chris Weilding (founder): Guitar, Vocals
Laura McCullough: Bass, Vocals
Drew Foglia: Drums, Backing Vocals
Now, about that music…
The first single, “Everything Real Is Free,” starts with clean, slightly phasing, mostly playful guitar strumming. The vocals, a combination of male and female (so, the Pixies sound immediately asserts itself).
The delivery, vocally, is earnest, clean, vulnerable, and not overtly, painfully melodramatic. It’s real, and immediately relatable.
What I love the most: The pre-chorus (or maybe it’s just the beginning of the chorus?) turns into something a little more serious, a little more ominous, and a little more honest. And as the song progresses, it gains more power, more desperation with gorgeous, supportive, non-static harmonizing; the second voice doesn’t follow the main predictably – it moves, almost responsive, and very much alive.
Good stuff, and I’m really connecting with it.
The second single, “Older, Slower,” starts with noise; almost like a gut-punching bell toll wrapped in wires of sparking guitar feedback.
And then the sludgy, heavy guitar riff kicks in. Oh, hell yeah – this is serious, hammering, feelings-thrown-hard-against-the-wall rock and roll.
The vocals? They’re a pseudo-yelling, male/female amalgamation. They’re a little chaotic, and playfully teasing (with what sounds like the occasional “na-na-na-na-na-na”).
And the chorus? Some great, more threatening chord changes here; they’re the unfortunate circumstances the rest of the song aggressively warns you about.
And then, at the end? We return to that abrupt bell toll. In with a bang, and out with … .well, another bang. Because that aggression? It’s still quite explosive, and the song’s ending won’t simply diffuse it.
But are they good?
Good grief, these songs are AMAZING, and I would love to hear more bands making music of this energized, melodically captivating caliber. And the greatness isn’t just in the melody, structure, or overall performance – it exists in the recording, mixing, and mastering, because these songs, sonically speaking, sound GREAT.
Goddamn Wolves have, without a doubt, reached a higher plateau of creativity, and I’m flat-out demanding you listen IMMEDIATELY and verify this for yourself (with utmost faith I’m not totally overselling it).
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BELOW: Listen to Goddamm Wolves and check them out on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (*AHEM*: “X”). Please support the Goddamn Wolves by visiting them on their website, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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