The best concept albums are the ones that can be picked apart and separated yet still enjoyed outside of the main event. Some bands manage to pull that off, others don’t (We once saw Mastodon 3 times in the same year performing Crack The Skye all the way through and, while amazing, we don’t know if we ever need to experience those songs again as a whole). Salem Wolves pulls it off.
Which is great because in today’s short attention span world that’s sometimes what you need. Personally, we’ve always been album fans so soaking in twelve tracks of dynamic sonic storytelling about territory wrestling (And Danny Morton Jr. aka “The Stranger” particularly) is an easy ask of us as listeners when presented in the vein of The Black Parade or American Idiot like The Psychotron Speaks does.
“Away With It” begins with a bang and that anthemic fervor that’s been teased in previously released singles and never relents while “Low Card” is an electric second batter, taking the mound with a rollicking rhythm section led by Don Schweihofer on drums (On The Psychotron Speaks, with Steven Shepherd regularly holding down the SW drum kit fort) and Justin Tisdale on bass as vocalist/guitarist Gray Bouchard passionately emotes utilizing both instruments (With Sam Valliere rounding out the guitar sound) at his disposal.
Then we get to previously released “So Desperate” which makes so much more sense within the walls of The Psychotron Speaks (It made sense before but context is everything) proceeded by the title track! That’s ominous and otherworldly! With a Goth Post-Punk vibe similar in style to Face To Face offshoot Viva Death! Exclamation! “What You Need” (Not to be confused with the INXS banger) is a somber synthetic symphony that’s all aura and atmosphere featuring another kick ass Bouchard vocal performance with another previous single and another that kills both in and out of the concept, “November”, coming off as particularly potent within The Psychotron Speaks.
Schweihofer’s drumming gets to really shine during the especially percussive “House Of Want & Need”, “Stay Strange” spirals out of that one with a rousing anthem for all us weirdos out here and bringing the Arena Rawk vibes especially when speeding toward the finish, and “The Void” is a burgeoning epic with squealing/wailing guitar lines from Valliere and Bouchard as a hypnotic drone from Tisdale’s bass resonates.
“Can You Relate???” is a romp and stomp with Tisdale’s bass getting a work out leading toward a killer chorus reminiscent of certain CA Pop Punk kings (That Green Day reference comes in handy here but with a MA feel) with “I Don’t Think It’s Funny” experimenting in Americana with the way the acoustic intro evokes all the feels. “Stumble” is kind of the perfect ending for it all with a glistening, dreamy nature offsetting the erratic yet focused Schweihofer drum lines while Valliere and Bouchard’s strummed guitars create an ambience akin to an Irish band known for an anthem or two as well as creating concept records that stick. Like The Psychotron Speaks definitely does.
The Psychotron Speaks is out now through Tor Johnson Records and you can secure your sonic story by heading here or here. For more from Salem Wolves, including upcoming live shows, follow the band across the interwebs by clicking here or here.