ALBUM REVIEWS

Wolfsbane WOLFSBANE SAVE THE WORLD Self-released 9.1.12 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk Mention Wolfsbane to anyone with a passing interest in the British rock movement of the early nineties and you will no doubt see a smile of fond recognition. A cocksure set of good-time rockers who were seemingly in the pages of Kerrang! on an almost weekly basis, the rock community was unanimous in rooting for Wolfsbane. The wider world, however, could not care less. So it was that, shortly after being dropped by Rick Rubin's Def American label, singer Blaze Bayley (understandably, it has to be said) jumped ship to join Iron Maiden, a controversial stint that continues to cause fierce debate among Maidenheads. Seventeen years after their parting shot, the Wolfies return with their original line-up, picking up where they left off in fine style on the spirited opener 'Blue Sky'. Wolfsbane fans (affectionately labelled 'Howling Mad Shitheads') need not worry about any significant changes in their sound, although 'Illusion of Love' experiments effectively with bombastic rock opera and Wildhearts-esque time changes. The trio of guitarist Jase Edwards, bassist Jeff Hateley and drummer Steve Danger gel together like they never split in the first place, while Bayley sounds more comfortable in his role as frontman than he did with Maiden. There is some filler, especially towards the album's close, and 'Teacher' sounds a trifle iffy in the hands of middle aged men. Still, 'Wolfsbane Save The World' is a largely satisfactorily companion to their earlier works, 'Live Fast Die Fast' and 'Kathy Wilson'. Ross Halewood www.wolfsbanehms.com Email Links & Comments to the editor Check the latest album releases