To Speak Of Wolves - Myself < Letting Go

Artist: To Speak Of Wolves
Album: Myself < Letting Go
Release Date: 5/18/10
Label: Solid State Records

When it comes to metal releases, I can be quite picky. The album needs to be melodic and have everything in place, the breakdowns need to be accurate and the screams need to be strong. For bands new to the scene, this can come as a challenge. However, one of Solid State's newest signings To Speak Of Wolves have pulled it off. The raw energy and power found on this release is spectacular and doesn't disappoint. The transition from the harsh growls and screams to Rick Jacobs' eerily haunting clean vocals is well done. This is something I rarely seen done perfectly in today's metalcore genre.

The intense opening of Myself < Letting Go starts off with the high energy "Darkness Often Yields The Brightest Light," with the opening line forced at you. "You feel the rhythm pumping through your veins" it declares with an edge. Jacobs' haunting vocals on "White Dress, Red Letter" do not fail to give me the chills on each listen, mixed in with a soft piano that blends into the grinding guitars. Coming like the calm after a storm is the ballad "Quercus Alba," which is very unexpected. The piano layered melodies mix with the laid back vocals, which eventually break into screams provided by Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath. In fact, Chamberlain's brother Phil is the drummer for TSoW. "Quercus Alba" is sure to be the most memorable track off the album, not to say that the others won't leave you wanting to mosh right where you are.

Rating: 8/10 To Speak of Wolves have released a great debut with a sound that can only get stronger over time. I'm left wondering how they could make such an album, but maybe you should let the music do the talking.

Tracklisting:

1. Darkness Often Yields The Brightest Light
2. You Should Have Locked Your Doors Days Ago
3. Trust, But Verify
4. Dimming The Light
5. White Dress, Red Letter
6. Just One Time
7. In The Midst Of The City
8. Quercus Alba
9. Your Cage May Not Have Bars, But It's Still A Cage
10. Nothing Ever Ends

(Buy Here)