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Written By Wolves - Single Review: Give 'Em Hell

16 Mar 2023 // A review by Kev Rowland

Written by Wolves may not have released any new material in 2022, but everyone knew the boys were working on their next album, and if you were fortunate enough to see them play then you will have already heard Give 'Em Hell as they were using this track as the opening number. In many ways this encapsulates everything which is Written By Wolves in one song – if you want to know why so many of us keep raving about them, then this will demonstrate why.

At just 4 minutes in length, Give 'Em Hell has so many twists and turns that the listener never knows where it is going to lead. Various different layered sounds take us into Kodo style drums, and then everything dies away, with a phased guitar in the distant background as Mikey gently sings “Take me to your leader”, and then he lets loose a scream, the guitars are in, and almost as soon as it has begun we are thrown in a different direction, then another, and then another. Within the first sixty seconds of this song we have heard all the instruments and vocals being treated in a multitude of different styles as we are sonically being thrown around, all the while realising that the music is both heavy and intensely commercial, and just so damn catchy.

If anyone ever wants to know how contrast can be used to great effect in just one song, then put this on, as at the back Karl Woodhams (drums) and Oli Lyons (keyboards, percussion) are all over the place as they provide different foundations, while either side of the singer there is Bahador and Davie crunching riffs, or keeping it tight, and then at the heart of it all is Michael Murphy, singing sweetly, or screaming, being gentle or ramming it home. They are mixing pop style mentality with dance stylings and then throwing it into the mixer with metal and coming out with something which is influenced by the likes of Linkin Park but being put on steroids as WBW take it to new heights.

With nearly 70 million views on YouTube, 60 million streams on Spotify, they are already known to many, but if the new album contains as many surprises as this one song, it is surely going to explode.

2023 will be the year of Written By Wolves. Are you ready?

Rating: ( 5 / 5 )
 

About Written By Wolves

Written By Wolves are a fresh and progressive, cinematic rock band and one of the most exciting new rock acts to come from New Zealand in recent years.

Having announced themselves on the world stage with their debut release, Secrets in 2019 they then combined with some of the biggest names in Rock Music in 2021 to release The Collab Project, an EP and mental health initiative aimed at giving their fans, friends and followers a platform to talk about their mental health and a reminder that no matter what they are going through they do not have to do it alone. Featuring Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D, Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens, Trenton Woodley of Hands Like Houses and Sydney Rae White of The Wild Things, the EP has received critical acclaim, millions of streams and has delighted fans worldwide.

Renowned for their highly energetic live show, the band have already shared the stage with international heavyweights such as Machine Gun Kelly, Limp Bizkit, Pendulum, Sublime With Rome, Suicidal Tendencies, Hed PE, Falling In Reverse, Escape The Fate, We The Kings, Four Year Strong, Stevie Stone, Kehlani and have recently completed 3 nationwide tours with two of New Zealand’s biggest Rock bands - Devilskin and Blindspott.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Written By Wolves

Releases

The Lighthouse
Year: 2024
Type: Album
Goddess
Year: 2023
Type: EP
The Collab Project // Secrets
Year: 2021
Type: Album
Secrets
Year: 2019
Type: Album
Prologue
Year: 2018
Type: EP

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