Wolverine - The Window Purpose


Year of Release: 2001
Label: DVS Records
Catalog Number: DVS 005
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:04:00

Telling a story with lyrics dressed in music is not an easy thing to do, although nowadays the number of bands doing just that has increased dramatically. Marrying the right music with the right lyrics requires a higher understanding of music and in the case of Wolverine, this is almost the perfect wedding.

Wolverine are from Sweden and their conceptual debut album is titled The Window Purpose. The concept Wolverine explore is the world of a sexually and physically abused boy who cannot cope with his cruel fate and sees his only release in form of suicide. It doesn't end right there, but listen and read for yourself if you can cope with the truth of life. The whole story is presented in an extremely open and descriptive way and the story reminds me of Pain of Salvation's The Perfect Element Part I in both lyrical and musical content. This is definitely for listeners with an interest in sociological and psychological subjects who don't mind feeling a little under the subject after some intensive lyric reading while listening.

The music is ranging from extreme progressive (not quite Spiral Architect but close) to almost melodic melancholic music and everything in between. The music does not always connect instantly and some of the songs still show rough edges but everything fits right in with the concept and it enhances the characteristics of the band. Vocalist Stefan Zell has a very balanced clean voice and sings with emotion and feel rather then aggression. For the more aggressive parts they employed the drummer Marcus Lasbjer who's added some death growls in the more dramatic sections. I am not a big fan of Cookie Monster vocals but for the most part it is still fitting and extremely expressive. This is testament to the origins of Wolverine, who started off as a melodic death metal band. The emotion charged song "Leaving Yesterday" includes some beautiful female vocals, sung by Jamina Jansson in duet with Stefan. Per Broddesson and Michael Zell know how to create a wall of guitars with solid riffs when things get busy, but they also underline the feel of the melancholic scenes with a deployment of acoustic guitars and clean phrasing. Overall there is no dominant instrument in the mix and Andreas Baglien on keys makes great use of the old rule - sometimes less is more.

While looking at the booklet I was amazed by the similarity to Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One only to find out that Wolverine employed the same man for the artwork and design; Mattias Norén. Sound-wise, Wolverine also deliver the goods with a clear and open sound. They produced the album together with Oliver Phillips and Christian Moos, both of the band Everon.

If you like your music progressive and emotionally charged give this a try and listeners of Pain of Salvation, Evergrey or early Fates Warning must not ignore The Window Purpose from Wolverine.

Similar To: Evergrey, Pain of Salvation

Reissued/remastered in 2005 by Earache with a variant track breakdown and a bonus track "Again."

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
End (0:45) / My Room (8:04) / His Cold Touch (Part 1) (9:43) / His Cold Touch (Part 2) (1:52) / Leaving Yesterday (7:11) / Towards Loss (5:55) / The Storm Inside (7:56) / Coma (7:25) / Release (2:12) / Post Life (5:57)

Musicians:
Marcus Losbjer - drums, death vocals
Stefan Zell - bass, clean vocals
Mikael Zell - guitar
Andreas 'Bagge' Baglien - keyboards, organ
Per Broddesson - guitar

Additional musicians:
Oliver Philipps - additional vocals
Jamina Jansson - vocals (5)

Discography:
Fervent Dream (1999)
The Window Purpose (2001)
Cold Light Of Monday (2003)
Still (2006)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin SE

Added: January 31st 2005
Reviewer: Peter Fundeis
Score:
Artist website: www.wolverine-overdose.com
Hits: 2614
Language: english

  

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