Ywolf Night Of The Werewolf
Adipocere Records CDAR73 2003
By Russell Garwood
Ywolfs music is best described as symphonic black without the metal; the songs on Night Of The Werewolf could easily be eight instrumental, Cradle Of Filth-style intros if it were not for the vocals. Percussion is sparse, with occasional dramatic crashes of cymbals and snare rolls, while the music relies entirely on synths some effective, others tacky. These keys range from the atmospherics of early Emperor to the more substantial Cradle-inspired dramatics, while harpsichords, strings, piano, and brass sounds crop up occasionally. Some of the better voices seem professional, while others could easily come straight from a cheap Casio keyboard, at times destroying any atmosphere created. The occasional vocals vary between high-pitched witch screams and more guttural tones, an interesting contrast to the otherwise completely non-metallic sound. Sporadic singing is low, and adds more ambience than it does melody.
As a great fan of bombastic instrumentals, I like what Ywolf are trying to do. There are several reasons why it doesnt seem to work for me at least; without the metal to create contrast such pieces lose their effect. To be effective the music needs to sound professional, and when extending such compositions over an album, they should be more structured. Which is a shame, as Night Of The Werewolf occasionally displays catchy tunes and a degree of technical ability that says the duo could surpass such setbacks.
Adipocere Records CDAR73 2003
By Russell Garwood
Ywolfs music is best described as symphonic black without the metal; the songs on Night Of The Werewolf could easily be eight instrumental, Cradle Of Filth-style intros if it were not for the vocals. Percussion is sparse, with occasional dramatic crashes of cymbals and snare rolls, while the music relies entirely on synths some effective, others tacky. These keys range from the atmospherics of early Emperor to the more substantial Cradle-inspired dramatics, while harpsichords, strings, piano, and brass sounds crop up occasionally. Some of the better voices seem professional, while others could easily come straight from a cheap Casio keyboard, at times destroying any atmosphere created. The occasional vocals vary between high-pitched witch screams and more guttural tones, an interesting contrast to the otherwise completely non-metallic sound. Sporadic singing is low, and adds more ambience than it does melody.
As a great fan of bombastic instrumentals, I like what Ywolf are trying to do. There are several reasons why it doesnt seem to work for me at least; without the metal to create contrast such pieces lose their effect. To be effective the music needs to sound professional, and when extending such compositions over an album, they should be more structured. Which is a shame, as Night Of The Werewolf occasionally displays catchy tunes and a degree of technical ability that says the duo could surpass such setbacks.
