Wolves At The Gate is the new signing from California based Solid State Records. This is a re-release of their debut EP called ‘We Are The Ones’.
It’s an EP with six songs containing almost 23 minutes of post-hardcore. A gerne label mates Underoath and Oh, Sleeper got there popularity with. But WatG is less electronic and ambient than Underoath and less metal based than Oh, Sleeper. They are more a mix of rock and hardcore.
The EP start with a intro with the same name as the EP. It’s a bold statement starting with:
“I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. The task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace”
and ending with:
“We are not the wolves at the gate, we are the ones who face them.”
After that the song ‘Vapors’ kicks in. The screams on this song are a little bit weak but the clean vocals are pretty good. Also the song structure is pretty good.
The screams get better on the next song called ‘Heralds’. This is also my favorite track from this album. I really like the lyrics of this song:
“Check my pulse, am I still breathing?
Will You grasp my wrist and hold it dear to You heart?
To see if I am beating for You and only You my Father”
The next song ‘Tonight My Son, Be Still And Sleep’ is in the same vain as the previous tracks. I like the breakdown in this song screaming “You are my anchor”.
“No Rival” is no exception. With really straight forward lyrics:
“Expect suffering and invite all the pain
Lord you have changed me and I am not the same”
The last song: ‘Oh, The Depths’ features Joe McFaddin from ‘This Love’ who does some clean vocals. Its again a decent song with no real big surprises.
Overall this is a nice debut. But they could make some improvements. Especially the screams. In the beginning they’re pretty weak after that they get no better than decent. The instrumentation is pretty good and I like the lyrics. They’re really bold and honest.If You like post hardcore with this kind of lyrics I would recommend this band for you.
6/10
Track list:
1. We Are The Ones
2. Vapors
3. Heralds
4. Tonight My Son
5. No Rival
6. On The Depths (feat. This Love’s Joe McFaddin)
Band:
Steve Cobucci – Vocals/ Guitar
Jeremy Steckel – Guitar
Ben Summers – Bass
Colin Jones – Vocals
Ben Millhouse – Drums
Record Label: Solid State Records 2011
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