After four long years, Adelaide’s Wolf and Cub have emerged from their lair, complete with a couple of line-up changes and a fresh perspective on their music.
Heavy Weight is the transcendent result – an enticing mixture of psychedelic, distorted bass lines, heavy guitars and alluring vocal twists.
“I Can’t Remember The Last Time” sets the mood for the record with its dark, fuzzy guitars and running, suspense-building bassline, before tumbling into the catchy single “Salao”; An upbeat pop endeavour, the compelling track is backed up with vocals much like those of Matt Helders on Arctic Monkeys’ new release AM.
The psych-rock tunes reveal their popular rock influences and roots as the album carries on. In mystical, dreamy pieces like “Shut Me Out”, it’s almost impossible to miss the similarities to Perth band Tame Impala, with warped bass sections and sneering, passionate vocals.
Synthy chords and sporadic guitar twangs lead into “Lizard Skin”, and as the drums roll in, the volume increases and everything ties together perfectly – even the more experimental, spasming guitar outro.
Emotional “Only In Your Mind” masters extra-terrestrial fade-out fuzz and slow, yearning guitar, whilst new single “I Need More” is instantly in your face and begging to be listened to, with its loud guitar and building energy.
“See The Light” and “All Through The Night” take a few tentative steps into the sphere of progressive indie pop, utilising occasional grungy fuzz, but lucid rock is back in full swing with final track “Got A Feeling”.
The track is a fitting end to the record – with a repetitive lyric of ‘Don’t hold me down’, it’s as if Wolf and Cub are laughing in the faces of everyone who told them they should give up. The wait for this album was definitely worth it.
