Rating: NNN
What a kick-in-the-crotch time it’s been for the Long Island screamo quintet. They basically had to reinvent themselves after their singer flaked out and left and their drummer, Francis Mark, decided to pick up the mic and front the band, all while they were in the recording studio. Whatever awkward tension arose left a lasting effect on Holding A Wolf’s overall mood. This anxiously heavy yet still accessibly melodic disc invites comparisons to the band’s earlier material, from before they vied for a piece of the mainstream pie. Openers Deth Kult Social Club and On The Offensive come out swinging as high-energy moshers, but things do get redundant after 12 songs full of that tedious scream/sing thing the kids seem to love. Definitely a potential for fun summer jams, though. From Autumn To Ashes get aggro ‘n’ emotional Saturday (April 28) at Fun Haus.
