Wolf Down – ‘Incite & Conspire’ [Review]
Appearances can be deceiving.
Wolf Down’s music is hectic, aggressive, and vicious. From the moment first track proper Against The Grain kicks off with harsh beats and old-school thrashy riffage, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Wolf Down are here to do little more than get in your face for no good reason. But below the surface, Incite & Conspire is set to deliver a message centred in sensitivity, sense, and compassion.
It’s easy to forget that hardcore isn’t all about one thing, namely getting in people’s faces and screaming your lungs out. But spend some time really listening to and thinking about Incite & Conspire, and the deeper themes gradually become clearer. From resistance to oppression in all its forms (Against The Grain) to environmental issues (Protect / Preserve) and the abuse of religious power (True Deceivers), this album tackles the dark side of the wider world head on, refusing to give up or give in.
Freedom needs as loud a voice as possible – and Wolf Down act as an ultra-effective amplifier.
As you might expect, though, Incite & Conspire’s pair of centrepiece title tracks prove its highlights. The former broods menacingly before breaking into a neck-breaking groove and face-melting vocal, and the latter whips up a hurricane-grade hardcore tour de force. Absolutely crushing – and featuring Jesse Barnett of Stick To Your Guns, as well as an annihilative beatdown – Conspire wins overall.
If you need your hardcore to breathe deeply, think carefully, and exude intelligence, Incite & Conspire is the album for you.
TMMP RATING: 88%
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