POWERWOLF – Preachers of the Night

 

Band:  POWERWOLF
Album:  Preachers of the Night
Record Label:  Napalm Records
Release Date:  19 July 2013
Reviewed By:  Mark Booth

Standout Tracks:  “Amen & Attack”, “Coleus Sanctus”, “Cardinal Sin” & “Lust for Blood” (well all of them really)

 

The last German band to attack my senses are Power Metal outfit Powerwolf with their 5th release ‘Preachers of the Night’.  Powerwolf have released an album every two years since 2005 and previous album ‘Blood of the Saints’ got rave reviews with it’s catchy power metal songs that poke fun at the Catholic church. Now Powerwolf are a band that aren’t to be taken to seriously as they are out to have fun and entertain the pack with their driving tempos, catchy choruses and amazingly fantastic musicianship, which this album has in abundance! You can tell they have fun as the song “Coleus Sanctus” is Latin and means ‘Holy Balls’, so the chorus literally means:

Coleus Dominus Sanctus Animus  Coleus Sanctus

Coleus Dominus Sanctus Animus

 

Balls Lord Holy Spirit

Holy Balls

Balls Lord Holy Spirit

 

Powerwolf are a little different to most Power Metal bands as vocalist Attila Dorn usually uses a more aggressive gravelly voice compared to the typical high-pitched vocals of other power metal bands. However Powerwolf play a more speedier power metal than most and the keyboards use a more sinister church organ sound, adding atmosphere to the songs. This is an advantage as instead of telling a sword and sorcery story of mighty heroes, Powerwolf sing about dark myths, lycanthropy, satanic overtones and poking fun at Catholicism and Christianity. The deeper vocals, sinister church organ and lyrics make Powerwolf stand out from the pack.

 

When you press play your senses are suddenly attacked by opener “Amen & Attack” which is an instant classic with the double bass pounding away and the riffs galloping and then the infectious chorus, what’s not to like? The album continues in the same vein and never lets go once it has its teeth in you. “Cardinal Sin” is another instant classic with the NWOBHM harmonies and soaring riffs added to by the blazing dexterous drumming and epic chorus you will keep singing over and over again! To be fair I could go through and give you a detailed description of every song, however I will just say “BUY THIS ALBUM, IT’S A CLASSIC IN THE MAKING”…the weakest song is probably “Kreuzfeuer”, although most other bands would probably love to write a song like it. “Last of the Living Dead” is down for 7 minutes, however the last four minutes is wind, rain & howls so you can really ignore them if am honest and that is probably my only other gripe with the album.

 

This album is a bombastic attack on the senses as it mixes the speed and melodies of Hammerfall (Glory of the Brave/Legacy of Kings era) with the atmosphere of King Diamond (Fatal Portrait, Abigail, Them era) and the metal riffs of Mercyful Fate (Mercyful Fate/Don’t Break the Oath era) with the sing along chorus of Sabaton. With a good old sprinkling of Iron Maiden on top…what’s not to like really? So go and check this album out and bang you head and sing (howl) along to your hearts content…bring on 2015 when the next album is out!

 

SCORE – 8.5/10

Track Listing:

1.. Amen & Attack

2.. Secrets of the Sacristy  3.. Coleus Sanctus

4.. Sacred & Wild

5.. Kreuzfeuer

6.. Cardinal Sin

7.. In The Name of God (Deus Vult)

8.. Nochnoi Dozor

9.. Lust For Blood

10.. Extatum Et Oratum

11.. Last of the Living Dead