Wolffpack. DeWolff

Out for some weeks, but I can't let this album pass you by. The LP arrived last week, so I could truly start listening. The opening is monumental after the first few seconds. There's no doubt with 'Yes You Do' DeWolff means business. The giant opening effortlessly moves into a great guitar riff and a kind of song Deep Purple was famous for a half a century ago. Add a little more groove and a little more soul and we're in 2021 albeit with a strange twist to the ghost of classic rock past.

DeWolff is still a band of young men but already there's a prolific output. I do not like all the albums just as much but all in all, all the albums have some great moments. Wolffpack is full of these. In lockdown the band has found the time to work on its new songs and the work certainly paid off. Wolffpack is full of inspiration and packed to the brim with the groove of a band that knows how good it is. And, let's face it, DeWolff is getting better at writing songs. The progression is a straight line going ever up. Next to that the brothers Van der Poel and their cousin Piso have become from huge talents, proficient players and singers. They have gotten to know their strengths and with them their weaknesses and can use, respectively ignore them to their great advantage.

The result is songs that are more to the point, using the best music of five decades ago to make songs for the here and now. Of course, DeWolff's main inspirations are still from an age when their parents were young. Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, just some obvious names that shine through on this album and in general over the past decade and a little.

So, DeWolff is not afraid to come up with an ultimate ballad like 'Do Me'. The organ sounds as sweet as Booker T. Jones' and Pablo's guitar is as soft as Hendrix' in one of his ballads on 'Electric Ladyland'. Never mind the nice harmonies under Pablo van der Poel's soft crooning voice. This is a song by a band full of confidence in itself. I'm certain it would never even contemplate bringing a song like this without it.

Overlooking the whole album, it is the diversity of songs that stands out. DeWolff shows what it is capable of. Another side to a band's sound is not necessarily better and neither is sounding more mature. On Wolffpack it is though. Compare Wolffpack to e.g. 'Grand Southern Electric' and you'll notice the growth, in all directions. Wolffpack is so much more diverse and better. The songs simply are more superior to the band's songs of seven years ago. The band members leave each other more space as well. Great guitar riffs are great guitar riffs, a warm organ solo or melodic run is just that. Just listen to 'Half Of Your Love' and you'll know what I mean.

It is the mix between a hardrocking band and one that allows its soul/pop side to come forward that makes Wolffpack an album to truly enjoy. Play it loud, play it soft, it works in all ways. The album is another great step forward in the career of a band aiming for greater things.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Wolffpack here:

https://dewolff.bandcamp.com/album/wolffpack

or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g