Wolves Within is a big improvement over their last record In Dreams. In Dreams lacked much of the character, energy and complexity that their landmark second album Rareform had and Wolves Within is able to recapture most of that magic. It was pretty clear to me that the After the Burial of old was back about a minute into album opener "Anti-Pattern". The track kicks off with a nice drum fill and shortly after, the first memorable groove kicks in and it brought me immediately back to the glory days of the band. The well-integrated polyrhythms don't stop there. "Pennyweight" comes right out of the gate with one of the fattest chunk riffs I've heard in quite some time and "Parise" gives bassist Lee Foral a chance to shine with a subtle yet still punishing bass line that makes for one of the more memorable groove sections on the entire record. After the Burial had such a distinctive and infectious groove to their music and their last record was sorely missing that for the most part, so it was refreshing to see that side of the band back in the fold this time around.
The return of the groove was much appreciated but where Wolves Within really improves on its predecessor is the songwriting. After the Burial became such a standout band to me because of their guitar leads. They had the perfect blend of melody, technical proficiency and catchiness on every single song. Wolves Within has some of their most impressive guitar acrobatics and complex songwriting to-date. This band has always been able to bust out mind-numbingly fast solos but they've never had better melodic solowork than on this record. The solo on "Nine Summers" is just beautiful and "Disconnect" is one of the most well-structured songs they've ever written thanks to the striking melodies throughout and the powerful solo at the climax.
Of course it wouldn't be After the Burial without the moments of jaw-dropping speed and they deliver just that on "Of Fearful Men" and "Virga" (which features original vocalist Nick Wellner in a cool throwback to Forging a Future Self.) Guitarists Trent Hafdahl and Justin Lowe really don't get enough credit in the metal realm for how talented they are. They can rip through solos with the best of them as well as write some of the most dense and stunning melodic riffs in the whole scene right now.
Wolves Within is exactly the bounceback record that After the Burial needed. The punishing grooves, incendiary solos, powerful vocals (major props to Anthony Notarmaso for his performance on this record, he continues to improve on each release he's been featured on) and gorgeous melodies that made them one of the best young bands out there are back in full force. Wolves Within just seems a lot more natural and fluid than In Dreams was. They are in their element when they're creating groove-heavy deathcore with flourishes of progressive riffing and speedy solowork, not screwing around with clean vocals and keeping the restraints on their twin-guitar attack. Wolves Within has me excited to see where the band goes from here and gives them their rightful spot back at the top of the Sumerian Records/deathcore heap.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Nine Summers
2.Disconnect
3.Parise
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