ALBUM REVIEW; WOLFMOTHER

Wolfmother- Wolfmother [S/T]

3.5/5

Modular/Interscope

Ladies and Gentlemen, witness the return of the power trio into the forefront of rock music.

With the muscle of bands such as New York City’s Secret Machines and Melbourne, Australia’s Wolfmother, the landscape of rock music is changing. We are seeing a return to the thumping rhythm section and jarring guitar work of the early 1970s.

According to Wolfmother's own biography, they jammed in anonymity until 2004, and upon stepping out into the public eye, they have never looked back.

The record was recorded in the legendary studio Sound City, the birthplace of classic records like Nevermind and Rumours. With galloping drums, the double tracked vocals, and driving, fuzzy guitar work, the band is not trying to invent something new. This record is intended to bring rock music back to its glory days.

The record is sometimes weak lyrically: In “Apple Tree,” vocalist Andrew Stockdale snarls and says, “Dear Sir, can you remember me/I'm the one that picked the apple tree.” He sounds like either a half-assed Jack White or a tired Justin Hawkins, of Darkness’ fame.

Despite the sporadic lyrical failings, the music is solid throughout. Wolfmother strikes the balance between pure hard rock and stoner dirge. This concept is put to the test in “Colossal,” which features a Kyuss-inspired intro, followed by a pure Sabbath riff. A flute finds its way in “Witchcraft,” which gives the track a Jethro Tull feel.

Raw, raucous rock is back, and Wolfmother is leading the way for it to retake the mainstream charts. Wolfmother is currently on tour in the US, with a show at Webster Hall in New York City on June 3.