The Joy Formidable // Wolf’s Law
It’s a visceral blast; a great snap and tear from a wolf’s jaw – raw, and bloody, and inciting overwhelming emotion.
The Joy Formidable - Wolf’s Law (Atlantic Records)
I have a sneaking suspicion. I believe that if you listened to Wolf’s Law and were able to strip away all the instrumentation to an unplugged set, you would still get tracks that feel wonderfully rich in their very basic elements. What the band proved with their debut album was that Ritzy and Rhydian’s vocals blend so harmoniously together that they’re like a single woven rope. They give us the most infectious melody lines and a somersaulting rhythm. With that at the core, what an exciting prospect it is to know that on this 2nd album, they let their musical palate expand to its limitations. There is imagery on the album, from the titles to the artwork that suggest the calm wisdom of Native American folklore, but the album is less than calm. It’s a sensational blast of the cumulative energy of three people, that manages to convey the unbridled force of their live show, which is always a sight to behold. Tracks like ‘Cholla’ and ‘Little Blimp’ beg to be played loud, while other tracks like ‘The Leopard and the Lung’ and ‘Forest Serenade’ show the band’s expansive credentials that saw them support the live kings, Muse, just recently. It’s a visceral blast; a great snap and tear from a wolf’s jaw – raw, and bloody, and inciting overwhelming emotion.
9/10 Emma Garwood
