Independent (label)
09 February 2018 (released)
23 February 2018
In a sense, all music is casting a spell in some form. It hypnotizes us, taps into dormant, unconscious thoughts and strives to connect with elements of this world that are bigger than ourselves. To some, it's an unintended consequence of their art, to others magick is deliberately woven into the fabric of their pieces. Various metal acts cling to occult symbolism for aesthetic reasons but also weave the language into their songs. Though there were few actual references to the occult in their lyrics, Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page, in particular) were obsessed with the concepts of magick and esoterism. It has often been argued what effect that had on their audiences. For a long time now magick and rock n roll have been linked together.
For Los Angeles based outfit Arden and the Wolves, magick isn't a casual interest. The concepts and mantras are inexorably tied to the music they make. Frontwoman Arden Leigh infuses the songs with transformative intentions and spells of banishment to help people overcome their trappings and misfortunes. On their latest EP, Who Can You Trust the band delivers five tracks of melodic alternative rock that deal with disillusionment, betrayal, and rebirths. A step darker than the proto-punk/alt-rock of their previous release It Looks Like Trouble, the new EP features heavier breakdowns and more dramatic passages in the vein of Evanescence or Paramore.
They open the record with the title track that moves from a verse with stutter-step drums and ringing guitar arpeggios to a straight-forward bare it all chorus. The quintessential L.A. rock guitar solo elevates the song to its finale. 'Another Year of Rain' begins with the ritualistic rhythm of hand drums as Leigh details the tale of falling prey to a lover's spell. The lamenting chorus is an infectious melancholic hook. Tango (The Girl Who Never Was) continues the slow burn motif with strings accompanying Leigh's archangelic harmonies.
The band makes an inspired cover choice with The Ramones 'Poison Heart', a track plucked from their later work in the 90s where they had moved beyond their three-chord archetype, crafting more complex chord structures and intimating more developed lyrical ideas than “Hey Ho Let's Go!”. The track perfectly suits The Wolves sound and taps into the societal dissatisfaction that permeates the album. It also gives the listener reason to go back and investigate The Ramones other works to be pleasantly surprised by their compositional maturity.
Who Can You Trust is a tight collection of alternative with bouts of grandeur. The Wolves hold down a rock-solid foundation of punk-infused, L.A. rock and Arden Leigh's lyrics hint at her mystical proclivities while still retaining a relatable vein throughout.
