The Joy Formidable - 'Wolf's Law'

The Joy FormidableWolf’s LawAtlantic RecordsThe Joy Formidable’s second album screams both “formidable” and “anthemic,” connoting sounds that one could imagine accompanying a wolf leaping off a cliff on its way into battle. Comprised of pummeling guitar chords, beating drums, soaring vocals, and discrete keyboard notes, the songs resemble both a repetitive battle cry and an anguished plea. Raucous and rousing, there are several standout songs: “This Ladder Is Ours,” “Tendons,” and “The Leopard and the Lung,” while “Maw Maw Song” is oddly reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” at times. While fast-paced, distorted sounds constitute two of the album’s defining characteristics, a need for variation is met with “Silent Treatment,” which errs on the acoustic side, rounding out the feel of the album. Wolf’s Law, while at times vulnerable, is a force to be reckoned with. —Mary Catherine Ballou[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/3280431" params="" width=" 100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]