Ah, yes! The inevitable “Wow, we actually had this record for a long time now but instead of doing anything with it writing-wise we chose to enjoy it until, per usual, the release date almost crept up and bit us in our collective ass!” Some day (Not soon) we’ll learn. But for today, and like most days, you just have to trust the process. And trust that our love of North Carolina’s Wailin Storms will push this review over the finish line before the street date!
“Dead End” is a classic Wailin Storms album opener with the way it sets up a tone that’s eerie, haunting and maybe just a tad evil as well. If you’ve been a fan of the band from the beginning through any iteration or WS time period then this track is for you and the perfect segue from the older to the now. Mark Oates and Steve Stanczyk’s Drum and Bass reverberations are on POINT as Ben Melton’s elite guitar screams cry out and Justin Storms’ distinct voice and delivery go from a whisper to a wail in an instant. “Heart Of Mine” sounds similarly unearthly and positions Walin Storms as the house band for a yet-to-be-made Rob Zombie-directed Horror/Western mash-up while “You Never Answered” is built from a start/stop rhythmic wallop and buzzsaw guitars that rattle around in the background like mosquitoes flittering about.
The title track hones in on Storms’ quivering voice before a cacophony of noise fills the air with “Never Rest” following and diving into Unsane and NYC-style Noise/Post-Rawk sounds for a bit especially with the way the rhythm section-led bulk of the track delivers before going off into jam land for a righteous Rawk out to end the song. “Saved” is bluesy and filled with a fluidity of a performance out of Stanczyk’s Bass then “Patient Night” is anxiety-inducing with an emotive vocal show from Storms amidst a solid backdrop of sound, Oates’ peak percussion choices and a glowing chorus.
Back to back six minute beasties close out the record with “The Wind” blowing in first and bringing a ravaging rager with many moving parts that constantly sway. If you like your endings loud then this is the one for you. However, if you want something a little moodier and mellow (But still harrowing), then the chilling “It’s All Dark Now Where Your Eyes Used To Be” and all of its’ piano-laden slow burn glory is your alternative ender.
The Arsonist is out on July 10th through Season Of Mist and you can make sure you’re the first in your neighbourhood to hear it by pre-savin’ and/or pre-orderin’ here or through the stream below. For more from Wailin Storms, including where you can catch them on their upcoming tour (Which, unfortunately, ain’t hittin’ Massachusetts this time by), hit up the information superhighway and make stops here or here.