Wake Up the Wicked
Powerwolf
Powerwolf have found a very specific combination of organs, choirs, heavy guitars and questionable religious behaviour, and Wake Up the Wicked keeps it working. The songs are large, immediate and fully committed to the band's theatrical world. Nobody involved seems worried about going too far.
Bless 'em with the Blade opens with the energy and melody you'd expect. The chorus is easy to catch, the guitars keep it moving, and Attila Dorn gives the whole thing a vocal presence that makes the absurdity feel properly performed. His control is a major part of why Powerwolf work.
Sinners of the Seven Seas adds a more danceable rhythm beneath the familiar sound. The contrast gives the song a useful identity, and the vocal sits comfortably above it. 1589 takes a darker historical subject and turns it into another strong, direct anthem. The band's ability to make these melodies immediately recognisable remains impressive.
The guitars have plenty to contribute too. The title track gives the solos a good amount of energy, and the rhythm playing stays forceful beneath all the choral decoration. Powerwolf can make an arrangement crowded, but the stronger songs keep the central riff and melody clear.
We Don't Wanna Be No Saints introduces a children's choir, which is an effective change of texture inside a record with a very established sound. The quieter Vargamor provides another useful contrast at the end, giving the album somewhere different to settle.
The familiar approach is also the main limitation. Joan of Arc and parts of the title track use moves the band have made before, and a few choruses are easier to recognise as Powerwolf than as individual songs. The album is more convincing when a rhythmic change or a distinct mood gives the anthem something extra.
Still, this is an entertaining set of melodic metal songs with an excellent singer at the centre. Wake Up the Wicked has enough strong hooks and confident playing to make its case. Established fans will feel at home, and the best tracks give newcomers a clear invitation.
